Pennsylvania bill bans use of hand-held devices for drivers | What you need to know

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- A crackdown on distracted driving is coming to Pennsylvania.

Gov. Josh Shapiro is expected to sign a bill banning the use of handheld phones behind the wheel. The state general assembly passed the legislation on Wednesday.

While texting while driving is already banned, this new bill targets simply holding your cell phone while behind the wheel altogether.

Drivers would face a $50 fine but no points would go on their license if they are ticketed.

Warnings would be given out the first 12 months after the law goes into effect.

There would be exemptions for operating devices in a hands-free mode so drivers can still use GPS or to talk.

Eileen Miller knows first-hand the tragic repercussions of distracted driving.

In 2010, her 21-year-old son, Paul, died when a distracted driver hit his car head-on, killing him and injuring several other people in Hamilton Township, Pennsylvania.

"It's been a long hard road, for something so common sense and something that's going to save lives," she said.

Eileen is the primary advocate for the new legislation which will also be known as Paul Miller's law.

"I'm so emotional. I went right up to the cemetery with my son to say, 'We got it," she said.

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Action News spoke with some drivers, who say a law like this is long overdue.

"It's less courtesy when you have that phone in your hand," said Robert Holmes, of North Philadelphia. "I think that's done went out the window -- the courtesy."

"I like that because there is so many accidents that people be getting," said Alexis Wilson, of Northeast Philadelphia. "I got into a few accidents because somebody on their phone. I feel like there definitely should be fine for anybody that's on their phone, especially have AirPods. So you don't need to be holding your phone if we have AirPods."

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"If this can affect and minimize the amount of driving while people are texting or texting while people are driving, then that would be a good safety measure for all drivers," said Shayna Kalish, Lower Merion.

Pennsylvania will soon join 26 states, including New Jersey and Delaware, to make handheld devices illegal while behind the wheel.

The bill also promotes education efforts by requiring minors to learn about distracted driving.