Colorado drivers could soon be fined for holding cell phones while driving

The state of Colorado is implementing anew law that will charge anyone who is caught with their phone in their hand while driving. The hands-free law will start on January 1, 2025. According to CDOT this new law would decrease the number of crashes in the state. There have been 700 deaths and 15,000 crashes over the last five years in Colorado. All of these crashes involve distracted driving.

CDOT  tells us that distracted drivers pose a particularly high risk to vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists. The state of Colorado will be the30th state in the country to implement this law. This law prohibits anyone from using a mobile electronic device while driving unless they use a hands-fee accessory.   These includes Bluetooth or a mount.

77% of Colorado drivers admitted to using their phones while driving, with 45% saying a hands-free feature in their car would stop them from using their phones. According to CDOT it is very dangerous when you take your hands off the wheel to pick up that phone or take your eyes off the road to check that text. That’s what is causing a lot of these accidents.

Penalties for violating the new law start with a $75 fine and two license suspension points for the first offense. It takes 12 points for your license to get suspended. Repeat offenders face higher tines and more license suspension points