LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — Starting Aug.1 in Louisiana, the use of handheld cellphones while driving will be banned and offenders may face fines.

On August 1, drivers will be given warnings.  Lafayette Police Department, Sgt. Robin Green explained that on January 1st, officers will begin to issue citations.

“This law is just to keep everybody on the roadway safe,” Green stated.

The new law gives an exemption to emergency responders and the dialing of 911 to report illegal activities and to report an emergency.

Lafayette Police Sgt. Robin Green agreed that an easy way to practice remembering the new rule is to drive with nothing in your hands.

“Use your Bluetooth, and if you have to use a speakerphone, which is fine, but the phone cannot be in your hands. You can use a phone holder inside of your vehicle, but not in your hand,” Green explained.

To name a few of the violations: The new law prohibits a driver from holding a phone to make calls, text, post, take pictures, or browse the web.  

Louisiana State Trooper Peggy Bourque reminded us that hands-free phone use while driving applies to the highway.

“You’re going fast on a highway.” Bourque added. “I mean, highways are between 55 and 75 miles an hour usually. If you’re going that fast, you’re not realizing when you look down at your phone for 5 seconds, even if it’s like a quick glance, you’ve already traveled the length of a football field.”

The fine is $100, reducible through community hours. 

“(You might think) What if I were paying attention, then I would have had that extra couple of seconds to react. Maybe I wouldn’t have hit that person or maybe I wouldn’t have overcorrected and caused that crash,” Bourque noted.

If you’re in a crash while using a handheld device, the imposed fine doubles.