When Is Texting and Driving a Primary Offense in Ohio?
To answer the question in the title directly, no. Texting and driving is not a primary offense in Ohio. This does not mean that drivers are allowed to text and drive with impunity in the Buckeye State. Nor does relegating texting and driving to a secondary offense mean that drivers can avoid being held liable for causing crashes and injuries or deaths while they were distracted by sending or reading text messages. What the Law Says as of 2020 In 2012, Ohio lawmakers made it illegal for drivers to use “a handheld electronic wireless communications device to write, send, or read a text-based communication” while their car or truck was in motion. Exceptions apply, but the law, which is designated as section 4511.204 of the Ohio Revised Code, has been strengthened over the years. One of the most recent updates, however, made it clear that police officers and state troopers cannot stop and ticket a driver just for texting. Any citation for using a handheld device in a moving vehicle must b