Missouri’s Hands-Free Law is now being enforced

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., (KBSI) – As of January 1st, 2025 Missouri’s Siddens Bening Hands-Free law is being enforced.

FOX23 reached out through the NOW local news app to hear what Missourians think of the new law.

“The new Hands-Free law in Missouri means that drivers can’t pick up their phone and use their phone while driving,” Ty said. “I think it’s a good law and it will save a lot of lives and we’ll see what happens with it.”

“I think it’s something that is important for people to be cognizant of,” Katie said, “because being on your phones can distract you from what is ahead of you, whether that might be an animal crossing or even a human.”

Cape Girardeau Police Department’s Safe Communities Coordinator Rachel Penny said the law went into effect August 2023.

“Then we had the grace period for education purposes so that everyone would learn that it was coming before it was enforceable,” she said.

Under the law, drivers cannot hold or support a phone with any part of their body; read or manually send text messages; record videos; post to social media; or watch videos. Any use of your phone while driving needs to be hands free.

For people who don’t have hands free options in their vehicle, Penny says to pull over or wait until you get to your destination to check on a missed phone call, text message, or other notification.

“We are ingrained where that phone rings, makes a noise, whatever — we’ve got to look,” she said. “We’ve got to see who it is. But, that is why we have so many crashes caused by distraction of these cell phones and that is why this law has been passed.”

If you’re caught with your phone in your hand or lap you could face pricey fines. Penalties increase with the number of convictions. A first conviction fine could cost up to $15o and a third conviction fine could be up to $500.

Drivers can also face criminal charges for crashes that result in property damage, injury or death.

“It’s not something to play around with,” Penny said. “We’re literally trying to save lives. That’s honestly what it’s all about. So just put the phone down.”