. Penalties include $20 to $400 in fines and four points on your driver’s license. Drivers are not allowed to send texts or emails while driving and cannot engage in any hand-held phone use while driving in a construction zone.

Commonly referred to as “the new drunk driving,” distracted driving causes thousands of car accidents every year. In 2015, distracted driving caused 24,089 collisions and 94 fatalities in Wisconsin alone. Even though Wisconsin has texting and driving laws in place, these numbers continue to rise every year.

What are the texting and driving laws in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin defines distracted driving as “any activity that takes a person’s attention away from the primary task of driving.”

Texting and driving is a particularly dangerous form of distracted driving and is subject to primary enforcement. If an officer sees you texting behind the wheel, they can pull you over even if you haven’t broken any other traffic laws—they cannot, however, confiscate your phone.

Texting and driving causes three different kinds of distraction:

Visual: You take your eyes off the road to read or respond to a message.

Manual: You remove your hand(s) from the wheel to type on your phone.

Cognitive: You focus on the email or text you are reading or writing instead of thinking about driving.

The distracted driving laws in Wisconsin also forbid drivers from watching videos or using their phones for visual entertainment while driving. Any hand-held use of a wireless device in a construction zone is illegal. Commercial truck drivers are prohibited from any hand-held use of a cell phone while driving.

MORE:

How much a distracted driving ticket costs you in the long run

What are the penalties for texting and driving in Wisconsin?

Penalties for texting and driving in Wisconsin include fines and points on your

driver's license

. Drivers with intermediate, restricted, or

commercial driver’s licenses

may face additional restrictions and penalties.

It will also go on your

driving record

, which can have an impact on your insurance rates and even future job opportunities.

Here’s a table featuring the different restrictions and penalties for texting and driving in Wisconsin:

Driver’s license type	Type of violation	Fine	Points on license	Other penalties
All	Texting and driving	$20 to $400	Up to 4 points
All	Distracted driving	$173	4 points
Intermediate or restricted	Any cell phone use while driving	$20 to $400	Up to 4 points	Additional six months before you can get your full license
CDL	Any hand-held use of a cell phone	$20 to $400	Up to 4 points	Various

If you accumulate 12 points on your license within a year, your license may be suspended.

Any hand-held use of a cell phone in a construction zone is illegal for all drivers. When you’re driving through an area with reduced speeds and signs to watch out for workers or other vulnerable persons, be sure to set your phone aside so you can keep your full attention on the road.

Distracted driving laws exist to help keep the streets safe for everyone—yourself included.

Key Takeaway If you’re caught texting and driving in Wisconsin, points may be added to your driver’s license and you may have to pay a hefty fine.

Are there exceptions to Wisconsin’s texting and driving law?

For the most part, all drivers in Wisconsin can use their phones while driving in the following situations:

Using a GPS or navigation system

Using a screen to monitor the back seat, weather, or road conditions

Using hands-free or voice-to-text functions

Turning on or shutting off a hands-free feature

Any wireless communication built into the vehicle

Other exemptions include emergency personnel while they are operating an emergency vehicle and licensed radio operators.

However, drivers with restricted licenses are not allowed any cell phone use while driving—the only exception is if they are calling emergency services.

Are there special rules about texting and driving for young drivers?

If you’re a novice driver with a

learner's permit

or restricted license, you are not allowed to use your phone at all while driving. Unless you’re calling emergency services, your phone should be put away or turned off at all times.

Getting caught texting and driving will not only land you with fines and points on your license, but it could also prevent you from getting your full license for an additional six months.

Can texting and driving raise my insurance premium?

As with most driving citations, texting and driving will have a considerable impact on your

insurance rates

In Wisconsin, the average driver pays $933 a year for their car insurance. After a texting and driving ticket, that number jumps up to $1,135 a year for the same coverage—that’s an increase of 22%!

To avoid having to pay more for your insurance, you can put away your phone or set it to “do not disturb” while you’re on the road. If you absolutely have to send or check a message, you can always pull off the road and stop so that you are not driving while you use your phone. Not only will this save you a costly distracted driving ticket, but it will also keep your insurance rates low.

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FAQs

Can you go to jail for texting and driving in Wisconsin?

The maximum penalty for texting and driving in Wisconsin is a fine of $400 and four points on your license. If you cause an accident while driving, however, you may face additional charges on top of a distracted driving citation.

How serious is texting and driving?

As a particularly dangerous form of distracted driving, texting and driving is a serious matter. Texting while you’re behind the wheel takes your visual, manual, and cognitive attention away from the road. Thousands of preventable accidents are caused by texting and driving every year.

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