Can you be ticketed for driving with a phone in your hand under a new Colorado law?
Yes. Holding a phone while driving in Colorado becomes illegal Jan. 1, with some exceptions
admin
Yes.
Colorado’s new hands-free law will prohibit drivers from holding a mobile device while driving beginning Jan. 1, with some exceptions. Using a phone with a hands-free accessory, such as a phone mount or in-car speaker system, is allowed.
A law enforcement officer must see a driver engage in careless driving while holding a phone to issue a citation. Repeated offenses may incur steeper fines and license suspension points. Commercial drivers in commercial vehicles are exempt from the new rules.
Previously, the hands-free law applied only to drivers younger than 18. The new law also prohibits holding a phone while making calls, checking directions, watching videos and any other in-hand use. Texting while driving is already prohibited in Colorado.
A Colorado Department of Transportation survey in 2024 revealed that 77% of drivers reported using a phone while driving.
Twenty-nine other states ban hand-held mobile device use when driving.
See full source list below.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
The Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims.
- Colorado General Assembly Mobile Electronic Devices & Motor Vehicle Driving
- Colorado Department of Transportation Colorado Hands-Free Law
- Corona Insights CDOT 2024 Driving Behavior Survey
- Colorado Department of Transportation Heads Up, Colorado! New 2025 law bans holding phones while driving
