LANSING, Mich. – Gov. Rick Snyder signed Kelsey’s Law Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013 to help Michigan’s inexperienced drivers.
The law bans cellphone use for anyone driving on a level 1 or level 2 graduated driver license in Michigan.
The new law is named after Kelsey Raffaele, 17, of Sault Ste. Marie, who died in a cellphone-related crash in 2010.
“This law means a lot to me, both as governor and as a parent of a young person who is learning to drive,” Snyder said. “I believe this law will help them gain that experience while reinforcing their responsibilities behind the wheel.”
The new law allows law enforcement to pull violators over for using their cellphones. If anyone gets caught talking while driving they will receive a civil infraction.
No points will be assigned to the driver’s record, and drivers will not be punished for using a hands-free phone system or for using cellphones to report an emergency.
31 Comments to “Gov. Signs Statewide Ban On Cell Use By New Drivers”
January 8, 2013 at 5:00 PM
OK, Stupid question, what is a stage 1 and stage 2 license???
and like most people, i speak on the phone, but use speaker phone, its not in my hand, its in my cup holder. would that count??
January 8, 2013 at 5:07 PM
level 1 is for kids with a permit and level two is usually drivers between age 16-18.
January 8, 2013 at 5:08 PM
16- 21 I think covers that… Not sure, now it says it pull violators, so does this mean anyone on their phone, till they establish age of driver. And when does this take effect.
January 8, 2013 at 5:08 PM
new drivers
January 8, 2013 at 5:09 PM
And WHAT about BLUETOOTH IN THE Dashboard and or one in the ear??
January 8, 2013 at 5:18 PM
@ Kathy the last paragraph says "No points will be assigned to the driver’s record and drivers will not be punished for using a hands-free phone system or for using cellphones to report an emergency."
January 8, 2013 at 5:23 PM
am glad this was done almost had someone hit me while they were on the phone and the roads were bad. i almost lost my life from a car accident before and I have 2 girls that i support. So you have been warned people on cell phones while driving they are out to get you before you end up dead or killing someone.
January 8, 2013 at 5:45 PM
well…if you can't drive and talk at the same time, pull over, its not rocket science people. I'm an adult, I don't need Gov Snyder dictating everything I do.
January 8, 2013 at 5:53 PM
@mcrtyfan…not everyone is as personally responsible as you. 4 nights ago, a young lady in the lane next to me, had her interior light on, and was trying to text. I do not understand how people are comfortable taking their eyes off the road for a second. Seems like there needs to be a law to get their attention.
January 8, 2013 at 5:54 PM
this was on a 55mph road…….
January 8, 2013 at 5:54 PM
Just another dumb ass law they will not enforce! Really went through the s-curve this afternoon with a State Police and a School Buss out in front of me doing at least 60 in the clearly marked 50 mph zone!
January 8, 2013 at 5:56 PM
Excellent!!! Now if only they'd just ban cellphone use in vehicles all together with the exception of a legitimate emergency!!
January 8, 2013 at 6:23 PM
I think it's great! Now onto the over 18 people who do the same!
March 28, 2013 at 9:12 AM
I agree, we totally support UNDISTRACTED driving. When we're behind the wheel, we're NOT on a phone. It can wait! Cell phones have voicemails too!
January 8, 2013 at 6:24 PM
are the cops going to beable to talk on theres too while driving cus I sure see an awful lot of them doing it
January 8, 2013 at 6:29 PM
What did we do before cell phones?
January 8, 2013 at 8:15 PM
I think we drove with our attention on driving instead of yakking away on cell phones. Divided attention means less safe driving, no way around that!
January 8, 2013 at 8:40 PM
Not necessarily- ever been on the highway and saw two people having a heated discussion? car weaving all over the road, speeding up/slowing down- distracted driving is distracted driving. If you truly want to stop it, then no one should ever be able to have anyone in the car with them…. if you are a parent, you have at some point also driven distracted due to kids crying, fighting, being sick, etc.
January 8, 2013 at 8:51 PM
Spoken like a true devotee to the perpetual cell phone calls. Very likely texting, too, which is completely insane while driving. Yes, indeed, things – unexpected things for the most part – do happen to divert attention while driving. All the more reason why total attention should be spent on driving as much as possible. If you'e driving, plus those unexpected events…very little attention is left over for correct and safe reaction to circumstance. Either drive or park it. What happened that each and every syllable that everyone has to say is so vital that it must be uttered immediately? Why is it necessary to be on that cell phone all the time? It's plain nuts!
January 8, 2013 at 6:31 PM
Let's just ban ALL talking while you are driving and just get it over with.
January 8, 2013 at 6:41 PM
This law needs to be changed to ban drivers who use their cell phone and drive
January 8, 2013 at 8:17 PM
You are absolutely right! I want to create a sign and hold it up every time I watch some nitwit make a really dumb move while talking on the cell phone….HANG UP THE PHONE AND DRIVE YOU FOOL!
March 28, 2013 at 9:18 AM
Super! I have put strip of paper at bottom of side windows that read = HANG UP AND DRIVE!!!!
January 8, 2013 at 7:11 PM
I look at it is if a police officer can talk on his radio while driving or type stuff out on his laptop while driving, then I can talk on a phone while driving.
January 8, 2013 at 8:00 PM
Not that I am against limitations on cell phone use while driving, but I feel this is one of those "Do as I say, Not as I do" kinds of things….just the other day I saw a driver's training instructor TEXTING while driving!!!
March 28, 2013 at 9:21 AM
Not surprised with these "pay as you go" non-experts (they're just hired help ya know!!) I've over and over again, seen drivers ed cars out, the instructor in the passenger seat, and kids not using turning signals. If they're not teaching to use signals, they sure as heck aren't respecting safe times to use America's favorite toy – the iPhone!!
January 8, 2013 at 8:14 PM
I think it's a real good start…but I think it should have gone farther and banned them for everyone. I mean, look around you when you're driving. Almost each and every dumb move done by someone behind a wheel reveals a person yakking away on their cellphone.
January 8, 2013 at 8:48 PM
I like this law as well people don't really pay as much attention on the road as they should taking the cell phones away makes it better to be less distracted. I am for this even though I don't drive nor have a license I don't want to see more people hurt to the hands of cell phones
January 9, 2013 at 8:04 AM
Reading these comments makes me want to ask: If this law is intended for teenagers, or those that have stage 1 & 2 licenses, why is everyone getting SO upset?????? The law does not apply to the majority of drivers (tho perhaps it should). 20 years ago we didn't have this particular problem, because cell phones weren't a big thing. The intent is to not harm our young people, but to help many of them be better drivers. This law doesn't affect the majority…
January 10, 2013 at 8:18 PM
They passed that here almost a year ago and nothing has changed at all just another law not being upheld
March 28, 2013 at 9:09 AM
The law says they can't TALK on a cell phone, doesn't matter if it's built in or not, it means NOT at all! Point is, the DISTRACTION isn't taking place. Their focus should be the sights and sounds around them while driving, not chatting with their friends! Lets stop looking for ways to get around the law and respect their life and the life of others that they will be driving amongst.