Pennsylvania's distracted driving law enters enforcement phase: What Pittsburgh drivers need to know
After a full year of warnings, Pennsylvania is set to begin enforcing Paul Miller's Law on June 5, 2026, meaning drivers across the state — including those in Pittsburgh — could face real penalties for distracted driving.
Signed by Governor Josh Shapiro in June 2025, the law is named after Paul Miller Jr., a 21-year-old from Scranton who was killed in 2010 when a tractor-trailer driver reached for a cell phone. The legislation makes distracted driving a primary offense, allowing police to pull over motorists solely for using their phones while driving — a shift from previous rules that required another infraction first.
During the law's first year, officers could only issue warnings. That grace period ends this week. Now, violators can be fined $50, plus court costs and other fees. If distracted driving results in a death, a conviction could carry up to five years in prison.
The law applies even when a vehicle is stopped at a red light or stuck in traffic, according to TribLIVE. Drivers are still allowed to use hands-free devices, voice-activated technology, or dashboard mounts. Emergency calls and reports are exempt.
Data from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation shows the scale of the problem. In 2025, Pittsburgh recorded 3,384 crashes, 380 of which involved distracted driving — one fatal. Statewide, 109,724 crashes occurred, with 9,443 linked to distraction and 46 of those resulting in deaths.
Pittsburgh law firm Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, P.C. has identified several high-risk intersections and corridors, including the Boulevard of the Allies and Bates Street intersection, Fifth Avenue and Morewood Avenue, McKnight Road and Siebert Road, Braddock Avenue and Penn Avenue, Saw Mill Run Boulevard (Route 51), Route 28, and Liberty Avenue through Bloomfield and the Strip District.
“This enforcement change is a critical step,” said traffic safety advocates, who hope the fines will deter drivers from checking phones at lights or while crawling through congestion.
Finch Walker is the Pittsburgh Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Contact Walker at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY.