What the 2019 California Law Says About Phone Use and License Suspension
California's 2019 law does not automatically suspend your license for using your phone while driving. Instead, it created stricter penalties for distracted driving violations, including higher fines and the possibility of a suspended license if you accumulate multiple violations or fail to pay fines. The law targets handheld device use — texting, calling, or holding a phone to your ear — while the vehicle is moving or stopped in traffic.
The key distinction: a single phone-use ticket will not suspend your license on its own. However, if you receive multiple distracted driving citations within a certain timeframe, or if you ignore a ticket and fail to pay it, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can suspend your driving privileges. This suspension is a consequence of the violation pattern or non-payment, not the phone use itself.
Key Takeaways
- California's 2019 distracted driving law increased fines for handheld phone use but does not automatically suspend your license for a single violation.
- Your license can be suspended if you rack up multiple distracted driving citations or fail to pay fines and court-ordered penalties related to phone-use tickets.
- Hands-free devices are legal, but you still cannot text, hold your phone, or watch video while driving — even at a red light.
- If your license is suspended due to unpaid fines, you must pay the full amount and complete any court requirements before the DMV will reinstate it.
- Drivers under 18 face a zero-tolerance rule: any handheld device use is illegal, and violations can lead to license suspension more quickly than for adult drivers.
What Counts as a Violation Under the 2019 Law
The law prohibits holding a mobile device in your hand or supporting it with any part of your body while driving. This includes texting, emailing, browsing the internet, taking photos or video, or holding the phone to your ear to talk. The vehicle does not have to be moving — you can be cited for phone use while stopped at a red light or in traffic.
Hands-free phone calls are legal. You can use a phone mounted on your dashboard or windshield, use your car's built-in Bluetooth system, or wear earbuds or a headset to take calls without holding the device. However, you cannot watch video content on any screen, even if it is mounted and hands-free.
Drivers under 18 have stricter rules. They cannot use a handheld device at all while driving, even with hands-free technology available. For drivers 18 and older, the law allows hands-free use but bans handheld contact with the device.
How Fines and Penalties Work Under the 2019 Law
A first distracted driving violation carries a base fine of $20, but the total cost is much higher once court fees and assessments are added. Most first-time violators pay between $150 and $250 total. A second violation within 36 months costs more — typically $50 base fine, with total costs between $250 and $500. Subsequent violations increase further.
These fines are separate from any license suspension. However, if you do not pay the fine or fail to appear in court, the DMV can suspend your license. The suspension stays in place until you resolve the ticket — paying the fine, completing traffic school if the court allows it, or satisfying whatever other conditions the court imposed.
If you are under 18, a violation can also result in a license suspension of up to one year, even on a first offense. This is more severe than the penalty for adult drivers and reflects California's stricter approach to teen distracted driving.
When Your License Gets Suspended for Phone-Use Violations
Your license suspension related to a phone-use ticket typically happens in one of two scenarios. The first is non-payment: if you ignore a ticket, do not pay the fine, and do not show up in court, the DMV will suspend your license. The second is accumulation: if you receive multiple distracted driving citations within a short period, the court or DMV may order a suspension as part of the penalty.
For drivers under 18, a single violation can trigger a suspension of up to one year. For adult drivers, a single violation alone does not usually result in suspension — but repeated violations within 36 months can. The exact rules depend on your driving record and whether the court decides suspension is warranted.
If you are suspended for non-payment, you must pay the full fine plus any late fees before the DMV will lift the suspension. If you are suspended as a court-ordered penalty, you must wait out the suspension period and then request reinstatement from the DMV, which may require paying a reinstatement fee.
How to Reinstate Your License After a Phone-Use Suspension
The reinstatement process depends on why your license was suspended. If it was suspended for non-payment, contact the court that issued the ticket and pay the full amount owed, including any late fees or penalties. Once the court confirms payment, notify the DMV. The DMV will typically lift the suspension within one to two business days of receiving confirmation from the court.
If your license was suspended as a court-ordered penalty (rather than for non-payment), you must wait until the suspension period ends. After the suspension expires, you can request reinstatement through the DMV. You may need to pay a reinstatement fee, which varies but is typically $100 to $200. You can request reinstatement online through the DMV website, by mail, or in person at a DMV office.
Once your license is reinstated, it is fully valid again. However, additional violations will be added to your driving record and may result in harsher penalties, including longer suspensions or higher fines.
Your Options if You Receive a Phone-Use Ticket
If you are cited for handheld device use, you have several options. You can pay the fine and accept the violation, which will appear on your driving record. You can contest the ticket in traffic court and argue that you were not using the device or that the officer made an error. You can also ask the court about traffic school — if the court allows it, completing an approved defensive driving course may reduce the fine or keep the violation off your record, depending on your driving history and the court's policies.
Do not ignore the ticket. Ignoring it guarantees that your license will be suspended for non-payment, and additional penalties and late fees will accumulate. If you cannot afford to pay the fine when ready, contact the court and ask about a payment plan. Most courts will work with you rather than suspend your license.
If you are under 18, the consequences are more serious, and you should discuss the ticket with a parent or guardian and consider your options carefully. A violation at a young age can affect your driving record for years and may impact your insurance rates significantly.
How Phone-Use Violations Affect Your Driving Record and Insurance
A distracted driving violation stays on your California driving record for three years. During that time, it is visible to insurance companies, and most will raise your rates. The increase varies by insurer but typically ranges from 10 to 25 percent. If you have multiple violations, the increase can be steeper.
The violation also counts toward your driving record for purposes of license suspension. If you accumulate too many points from various violations (not just phone use), your license can be suspended. In California, accumulating four or more points in 12 months, six or more in 24 months, or eight or more in 36 months can trigger a suspension, depending on your age and driving history.
After three years, the violation no longer appears on your record for most purposes, though it may still be visible to law enforcement and the courts. Keeping a clean record after that point helps your insurance rates return to normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my phone at a red light or while parked?
No. California law prohibits handheld device use while driving or stopped in traffic, including at red lights. However, if you are parked in a parking lot or on the side of the road and the engine is off, you can use your phone. The key is that the vehicle must not be in motion or stopped as part of traffic flow.
What if I was using my phone for GPS navigation?
If you were holding the phone in your hand, you can still be cited. However, if the phone was mounted on your dashboard or windshield and you were not holding it, you should not have been cited. If you received a ticket for mounted GPS use, you can contest it in court and explain that the device was hands-free.
Does traffic school remove the violation from my record?
Traffic school can reduce or eliminate the fine and may prevent the violation from appearing on your record, but only if the court allows it and you have not attended traffic school within a certain period (usually 18 months). Not all courts offer this option for distracted driving violations. Ask the court when you receive your ticket whether traffic school is available for your case.
If I pay the fine, will my license still be suspended?
No. Paying the fine resolves the ticket and prevents suspension for non-payment. However, if the court ordered a suspension as part of the penalty (separate from non-payment), you will still serve that suspension. A single first-time violation for an adult driver rarely results in a court-ordered suspension, but repeated violations can.
How long does a phone-use suspension last?
If your license is suspended for non-payment, it stays suspended until you pay. If it is suspended as a court-ordered penalty, the length depends on the court's decision and your driving history. For drivers under 18, a suspension can last up to one year. For adult drivers, court-ordered suspensions are typically shorter, but the exact length varies by case.