The enforcement of Missouri’s hands-free law is aimed at reducing accidents caused by distracted driving, which has become a growing concern across the state.
Since its implementation in January 2024, the Missouri State Highway Patrol MSHP has issued 33 citations and 15 warnings in the KC Metro area, emphasizing the serious consequences of phone use while driving.
Missouri’s hands-free law, effective since August 2023, prohibits physical contact with any phone or electronic device while operating a vehicle. The law is especially critical in light of statistics from the MSHP, which report 106 fatalities due to distracted driving last year, with thousands more injured. The law carries fines ranging from $150 to $500, particularly when violations occur in school zones or construction areas.
Drivers, like Edwin Chavez, share personal stories of how phone distractions have led to accidents. Chavez, who was T-boned by a driver on their phone, stressed the importance of staying focused on the road, stating, “No one wants to see loss on the other side… not over a device.
The law is a secondary violation, meaning a driver must be pulled over for another offense, like lane violations or failure to signal, that could be linked to phone use while driving.
With distracted driving causing preventable deaths and injuries, Missouri State Highway Patrol is urging drivers to stay off their phones for the sake of road safety.