Texting and Driving in Texas
Texting and driving is illegal in Texas, but some cities in the Lone Star State have banned using any handheld device when behind the wheel.
Written by Stephanie Southmayd
Edited by Jessica Barrett
It’s illegal to text and drive in Texas. Some Texan cities, like Dallas and Austin, have banned all cellphone use while driving.
- It’s illegal to text and drive in Texas.
- You’ll receive a fine of $25 to $99 for a first offense, but tickets for subsequent offenses can be up to $200.
- Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin are just a few of the Texan cities that prohibit the use of cell phones while driving altogether—not just for texting.
- A distracted driving ticket will have a serious impact on your driving record and Texas insurance rates.
- It’s illegal to text and drive in Texas.
- You’ll receive a fine of $25 to $99 for a first offense, but tickets for subsequent offenses can be up to $200.
- Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin are just a few of the Texan cities that prohibit the use of cell phones while driving altogether—not just for texting.
- A distracted driving ticket will have a serious impact on your driving record andTexas insurance rates.
Texting while driving is illegal in Texas
- All drivers are prohibited from any type of “electronic messaging” while driving—including texting, emailing, and instant messaging
- Drivers under 18 cannot use wireless communication devices
- Drivers over 18 years with a learner’s permit cannot use handheld cell phones during the first six months of driving
- School bus drivers cannot use a cell phone when children are in the vehicle
- All drivers are prohibited from using handheld devices in school zones
Some cities take the statewide ban on texting and driving a step further. More than 60 cities have implemented ordinances entirely banning cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle.
If you’re crossing into one of these cities, keep an eye out for signs informing you of the cell phone laws:
Exceptions to the Texas texting and driving laws
If you’ve been nailed with a texting and driving ticket in Texas, you may be able to fight it if you can prove you were:
- Not moving or at a red light
- Using a hands-free device or voice-to-text
- Requesting emergency assistance or reporting illegal activity to law enforcement
- Reading a text that you reasonably believed was an emergency
- Relaying information to a dispatcher
- Using a GPS or navigation system
- Activating a function on your phone to play music
Drivers under 18 and adults holding a learner’s permit are permitted to use a wireless device in an emergency to contact:
- An emergency response service (police, fire, ambulance)
- A hospital
- A health clinic
- A medical doctor’s office
- An individual to administer first aid or medical treatment
Take note: Texas drivers under 18 are prohibited by state law from using wireless communication devices for any reason outside of an emergency.
You’ll be fined up to $200 if you break Texas distracted driving laws
If you’re cited for texting and driving in Texas, you won’t receive any points on your driving record—the penalties are strictly monetary. The costs of a texting and driving ticket in Texas are as follows:
- First offense: $25 to $99
- Subsequent offenses: $100 to $200
But the fees don’t stop there—you’re also liable for court costs. And if your texting and driving resulted in a car accident causing serious injuries or death, the offense becomes a Class A misdemeanor. Under Texas law, this is punishable with a fine of up to $4,000 and one year in jail.
A distracted driving ticket will spike your insurance rates
A
distracted driving ticket
can do a number on your car insurance
. On average, a texting and driving citation will raise your annual premium by $500 to $2,267 annually.So, if you want to hang onto your affordable insurance rate, be sure to keep your eyes on the road and your hands away from your device.
FAQs
Can you text while at a stoplight in Texas?
Yes—the Texas Department of Transportation prohibits drivers from reading, writing, or sending a text message while the vehicle is in motion. It doesn’t restrict cell phone use when the vehicle is stopped.
When did the Texas texting and driving law go into effect?
Texas banned texting and driving on September 1, 2017—the 47th state to do so—in a concerted effort to prevent distracted driving accidents. Still, in 2021 alone, nearly one in five crashes in Texas resulted from distracted driving, with 431 fatalities and 2,934 serious injuries statewide.
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