Starting today (Thurs 8/1) it’s illegal for Minnesota drivers to use their cell phones while behind-the-wheel, except in hands-free mode. Minnesota State Patrol Chief, Colonel Matt Langer says the only thing people can do while driving is put their phone into hands-free mode with single-touch activation. “If you’re driving down the road and your phone rings and you’re not holding it, you can touch the phone to answer that call — provided you’re talking on the phone in hands-free mode,” Langer says.
It’s now also illegal for drivers to hold their phone while at a red light or stopped in traffic. And even in hands-free mode, it’s illegal to do any gaming, video streaming, facetiming, scrolling on the Internet or use any social media apps. For answers to frequently-asked-questions about the new law, visit handsfreemn.org.