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Motor1

Sport

Steve Ecker

‘I’m Too Busy Eating’: What Is Paul Miller’s Law and Why Does It Mean You May Be Much More Likely to Get Pulled Over?

Paul Miller Jojo Pennsylvania TikTok

One of the golden rules of driving is to always keep your eyes on the road, avoid any distractions, and ensure that full presence is on the task at hand. This rule used to be easier, but when phones became smart, eyes started drifting away from roads to screens.

Phones now have everything. Your phone is now your GPS, music player, email, and social media source, all in one. It also has countless apps to grab your attention. It's become habitable to reach for your phone during downtime, which has led to an increase in distracted driving.

Well, checking your phone while driving will start to have more consequences with the new Paul Miller’s Law going into place.

In a TikTok with nearly 7.9M views, JoJo (@jojoonthegogotravels) shares all the details you’ll want to know about the Paul Miller Law and the potential fines associated if caught breaking it.

What Is the Paul Miller Law?

In her post, JoJo reveals that Pennsylvania put the Paul Miller Law into effect on June 5, with 30 other states already having “no touch” laws in place.

The Paul Miller Law bans drivers from using any handheld devices, including cell phones, while driving. This law allows police to pull over any driver using their phone while driving, and yes, this does include at red lights and stop signs.

Pennsylvania has passed this law, with it going into effect on June 5. The law is named after Paul Miller, who tragically passed away in a car accident with a tractor-trailer truck in July 2010. The tractor-trailer driver lost control of the truck while reaching for his cell phone and crashed into Paul Miller’s car.

Miller’s mother made it her mission to ban any use of handheld devices while driving to avoid more crashes. After years of lobbying and fighting to make this into a law, she succeeded.

Pennsylvania officials are excited to pass this law and believe it’ll save many lives.

“Paul Miller’s Law is about saving lives," said Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll said last week in a press conference. "Your choices behind the wheel can change lives forever. Make the safe choice. Put your phone out of reach and don’t text and drive. One text, one glance down—it could kill someone. And it’s not worth it."

Under Paul Miller’s Law, drivers can still use their phones to alert emergency responders. The law also notes that it is OKto make phone calls, use a GPS, and listen to music if hands-free technology is used.

What Happens If You Get Caught Checking Your Phone While Driving With This New Law?

Starting June 5, Pennsylvania law enforcement will begin issuing written warnings for violating Paul Miller’s Law. If law enforcement sees you on your phone, they can pull you over.

Citations and fees will go into effect on June 6, 2026. These fines will start at $50 plus court costs and other fees. Getting caught will not affect your driver's record for non-commercial drivers.

Distractions Are Everywhere

There is no denying that distractions are everywhere when driving. Whether it’s using your cell phone, adjusting the GPS, doing your makeup, eating, or changing the song, these actions could become life-threatening.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that over 3,000 deaths occurred in 2023 due to distracted driving, with 8% of fatal crashes in 2023 involving distracted drivers. Additionally, 324,819 were injured in distraction-related crashes in 2023. Another study conducted by AAA revealed that six out 10 teen driving accidents were caused by distracted driving.

As technology continues to advance, more awareness around distracted driving needs to be considered. By implementing laws such as Paul Miller’s Law, we’re taking steps in the right direction.

What Did Viewers Think?

“All the cops that pass me are texting on their phones” one commented.

“But we can touch these massive screens in cars,” a second added.

“That's fine I'm too busy eating while putting my makeup on,” another joked.

“Let me get this straight. I can touch my car screen that duplicates my phone screen. But I can’t do the exact same thing on my phone,” a further commenter questioned.

Motor1 has contacted Jojo via Instagram and TikTok direct message. We'll be sure to update this article when we hear back.