WARNING: It’s Illegal to Use your Phone At Red Light in Michigan

We all are aware, or should be at any rate, that it is illegal to use your phone in your car while driving in Michigan. It's the distracted driving law of Michigan.

But, what about when you are sitting at a stop light? That's okay to use it, right?

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Nooooo, no way!

How do I know this? A Reddit.com reader in Ann Arbor, Party-Phase 8594, found out the hard way as she wrote:

"I was stopped at Jackson and Maple waiting for the left turn onto Stadium. I picked up my phone to check Waze for my ETA, and read a text. When the light changed, I set it down and drove on. Got pulled over immediately, cop must have been right behind me somewhere. He said Jackson is one of 3 safety corridors where they are aggressively enforcing the no-device-in-hand law. Washtenaw is another, I forgot the third.

What I didn't know is that includes sitting at red lights when you are not actively moving and steering the car.

And it's a $240 ticket for the first offence, goes up for more. Yikes."

How many time have you been behind someone at a red light, they are on their phone, the light turns green, and they sit there totally unaware! Aaarrrgghhh!!

What are the Michigan distracted driving laws?

Our sponsor partner, Michigan Auto Law says this:

The Michigan distracted driving laws prohibit drivers from using a hand-held cell phone or mobile electronic device to: (1) talk on the phone; (2) text; (3) watch or record videos; and (4) post to and engage on social media. (MCL 257.602b(1), (12)(a) and (13))

Specifically, the laws make it illegal for drivers to use a hand-held cell phone or mobile electronic device to engage in any of the following four activities while they are driving:

• Sending or receiving a telephone call.
• Sending, receiving, or reading a text message.
• Viewing, recording, or transmitting a video.
• Accessing, reading, or posting to a social networking site.

Michigan Auto Law goes on to say:

The hands-free exception allows drivers to use their phone or mobile electronic device while driving so long as the phone or device is: (1) being used in “hands-free” or “voice-operated” mode; or (2) is “placed in a mount.”

Please be safe and careful. There are so many obvious dangers of distracted driving. Your crash risk more than doubles if using your phone.