roadwise.Open study app

Ohio driving lesson · Be Alert

Phone penalties & the under-18 total ban

A 2-minute lesson from the Ohio course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Be Alert
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
11

Penalties for phone use climb fast with repeat offenses, and they double in work zones. For drivers under 18, the rule is simpler and stricter: no electronic devices at all, even hands-free.

Penalties for drivers 18+ (offenses counted within two years)

Penalties for drivers 18+ (offenses counted within two years)
OffensePointsFineOther
1st2 pointsUp to $150Course can help avoid fine/points
2nd3 pointsUp to $250—
3rd or more4 pointsUp to $500Possible 90-day suspension
Handbook p. 11 ↗

Know the rule

Completing a distracted driving course after a first offense can help you avoid the fine and points.

Handbook p. 11 ↗

Know the rule

Fines are doubled if the violation occurs in a work zone.

Handbook p. 11 ↗

Know the rule

Drivers under 18 may not use any electronic device while driving — even hands-free — or while sitting at a traffic light or in a traffic jam.

Handbook p. 11 ↗

The only exceptions for drivers under 18:

  • Using a navigation device
  • Calling emergency services
Handbook p. 11 ↗

Primary offense

A violation that is a main cause for a traffic stop — an officer can pull you over for it alone. Under-18 device use is a primary offense.

Handbook p. 11 ↗

Penalties for drivers under 18

Penalties for drivers under 18
ViolationSuspensionFine
First60 days$150
Second1 year$300
Handbook p. 11 ↗

Put it into practice

A 17-year-old is stuck in a traffic jam and sends a quick text. That's illegal even though the car isn't moving; under 18 you can't use devices in a traffic jam or at a light. A first violation means a 60-day suspension and a $150 fine.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

What is the penalty for a first phone-use offense in two years for a driver 18 or older?
  1. 3 points and up to a $250 fine
  2. 2 points and up to a $150 fine
  3. 4 points and up to a $500 fine
  4. No points, just a warning

Answer: 2 points and up to a $150 fine

A first offense in two years carries 2 points and up to a $150 fine.

Handbook p. 11 ↗
What happens on a third or more phone-use offense in two years, for a driver 18+?
  1. 2 points and a $150 fine
  2. Automatic 1-year suspension
  3. 4 points, up to a $500 fine, and possible 90-day suspension
  4. 3 points and a $250 fine

Answer: 4 points, up to a $500 fine, and possible 90-day suspension

A third or subsequent offense in two years carries 4 points, up to a $500 fine, and a possible 90-day license suspension.

Handbook p. 11 ↗
How are phone-use violation fines affected if the violation occurs in a work zone?
  1. They are unaffected
  2. They are reduced by half
  3. They are tripled
  4. They are doubled

Answer: They are doubled

Fines for phone-use violations are doubled when the violation occurs in a work zone.

Handbook p. 11 ↗
Can a driver under 18 use a hands-free device while driving in Ohio?
  1. No — any electronic device use is illegal for drivers under 18
  2. Yes, hands-free is always allowed
  3. Only after 6 months of licensure
  4. Only during daylight hours

Answer: No — any electronic device use is illegal for drivers under 18

Drivers under 18 may not use any electronic device while driving, even hands-free.

Handbook p. 11 ↗
What is the penalty for a first device-use violation for a driver under 18?
  1. 1-year suspension and a $300 fine
  2. 60-day suspension and a $150 fine
  3. 2 points and a $150 fine
  4. Warning only

Answer: 60-day suspension and a $150 fine

A first violation for a driver under 18 results in a 60-day license suspension and a $150 fine.

Handbook p. 11 ↗
What is the penalty for a second device-use violation for a driver under 18?
  1. 60-day suspension and a $150 fine
  2. 6-month suspension and a $250 fine
  3. 1-year suspension and a $300 fine
  4. 2-year suspension and a $500 fine

Answer: 1-year suspension and a $300 fine

A second violation for a driver under 18 escalates to a 1-year suspension and a $300 fine.

Handbook p. 11 ↗
Take the lesson checkpoint in the app

More in Be Alert