LOUISIANA, (KLFY) — Starting August 1, Louisiana drivers will need to put their phones down—or face the consequences.

House Bill 519, signed into law earlier this year, prohibits the use of handheld cellphones while driving. Supporters say it’s a long-overdue step to curb distracted driving, which has become a leading cause of fatal and serious-injury crashes both in Louisiana and nationwide.

“It’s designed to prevent distracted driving,” said Representative Brian Glorioso, who authored the bill. “What it does is it prohibits the use of a handheld cell phone or device while you’re driving.”

The law will roll out in phases. From August 1 through the end of the year, officers will only issue warnings to violators. But beginning January 1, 2026, drivers could face fines starting at $100 for a first offense. Fines may increase in school zones or if the cellphone use contributes to a crash.

There is one key exception: the law is only a secondary offense in most areas. That means an officer can’t stop a driver solely for using a cellphone unless the violation occurs in a designated school or construction zone. Otherwise, the driver must be stopped for another moving violation first—such as speeding or running a red light.

“If they saw you using your cell phone while committing that other violation, then they can cite you for both,” Glorioso explained.

Law enforcement agencies across the state are already preparing for the new rule.

“We’re already preparing with our traffic enforcement to pay attention to those people that have the phones in the hands,” said Officer Todd D’Albor. “We want people to pay attention to the road and be safe and get to where they’re going without being distracted and getting in accidents.”

Beyond safety, officials hope the law will also offer financial relief to Louisiana drivers—who currently pay some of the highest auto insurance rates in the country.

“We looked at 10 or 12 other states that have recently passed this,” Glorioso said. “Every one of those states had relatively significant reductions in auto insurance—anywhere from six to ten percent. Which is really big for Louisiana.”

Hands-free calls, voice commands, and dashboard mounts will still be allowed under the law. Texting, emailing and scrolling social media while holding the phone will not.

For now, the message is clear: get ready to go hands-free, or risk a fine in the new year.

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