Is There a New Cellphone “Touch Law” for Minnesota Drivers?
July 14, 2025 | Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd.
A rumor has been circulating on social media and across the internet that a new “touch law” went into effect on June 5, 2025, in 31 U.S. states, including Minnesota. The purported law bans handling or touching your phone while driving. This claim is misleading, however. Such a law did go into effect in Pennsylvania on June 5 and is known as “Paul Miller’s Law.” But the other states mentioned in the claim, including Minnesota, already have similar laws that have been in place for several years. In Minnesota’s case, the hands-free cell phone use law went into effect in 2019. So, while there is no new “touch law” in Minnesota, drivers should still act in accordance with the existing law.
What is Minnesota’s Hands-Free Cell Phone Law?
Minnesota’s hands-free law makes it illegal, in most cases, to use a handheld cell phone while driving. This includes when a driver’s vehicle is stopped at a traffic light or in a traffic jam.
However, it is legal for drivers to use cell phones in hands-free mode. This means that drivers are permitted to use their phones through voice commands or with a single-touch activation. So, you are allowed to make or take phone calls, send or receive messages, listen to audio, and receive GPS directions if you use your phone in hands-free mode.
But drivers are still generally not allowed to look at their phones while driving, which means no reading messages or watching videos, even in hands-free mode. Drivers may look at their phones for GPS directions as long as they do not type or hold the phone.
A first-time violation of the law can result in a fine of $100 or more, including court fees. Subsequent offenses can result in fines of $300 or more.
Exceptions to the Hands-Free Rule
Minnesota’s law allows a driver to use their phone with their hands in the following situations:
- To obtain emergency assistance for a traffic accident, a medical emergency, a serious traffic hazard, or a crime about to be committed.
- In the reasonable belief that a person’s life or safety is in immediate danger.
- In an authorized emergency vehicle while in the performance of official duties.
Please Drive Safely
While the rumor of a new “touch law” going into effect across the country may be false, it serves as a healthy reminder to obey existing laws by only using your phone in hands-free mode while driving. Staying focused on the road protects you and everyone around you. If you are injured in a car accident in which someone else is at fault, the attorneys at Barna, Guzy & Steffen can help. Contact us for a consultation.