Here’s how many citations Pa. State Police have issued in Central Pa. under new distracted driving law

Paul Miller’s Law took effect June 5, allowing police to issue citations to drivers using handheld devices while behind the wheel.

• Katie Knol/WITF
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  Katie Knol is WITF's General Assignment Reporter & Host.
  
  She graduated from Penn State University in 2024, earning bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science. She has also worked at WPSU, the News Lab at Penn State, The Daily Collegian and CommRadio.

Pennsylvania State Police have issued more than 200 citations for distracted driving in Central Pa. during the first month of fines under Paul Miller’s Law.

The citations came from state police Troops H and J, which cover Perry, Cumberland, Dauphin, Adams, Franklin, Lancaster, Chester and York counties.

Statewide, Pennsylvania State Police issued 1,066 citations during the first month of enforcement, according to the department’s citation database. Local police officers can also issue citations under the new law. 

Paul Miller’s Law took effect June 5, allowing police to issue citations to drivers using handheld devices while behind the wheel. During the previous year, officers could only issue warnings.

The fine for distracted driving is $50, though court expenses and fees bring the total cost closer to $200.

“As police officers, we definitely know [distracted driving] is happening way too often, so it is nice that people can get pulled over,” said Megan Frazer, public information officer for Troop H. “We don’t want to give people citations, but this is good because people are being more aware of distractions and making sure that everyone’s driving safe on the roadway.” 

Last year, there were 9,174 crashes caused by distracted driving statewide in 2025, according to PennDOT data. Forty-four of those crashes included fatalities. Most states, including all of Pennsylvania’s neighbors, have bans on handheld cell phones while driving. 

Frazer said a driver checking their phone for just five seconds can be dangerous.

“It’s the same as driving with your eyes closed for the entire length of a football field,” she said.

Police officers can pull a driver over if they show signs of distraction, such as swerving or abrupt movements. Frazer recommended drivers connect their phones to their vehicle if they can, so they can answer any phone calls with a single button-press. If they must check something on their phone or send a message, she said drivers should safely pull off of the road.

“It’s not that important,” Frazer said. “That text or phone call is not worth risking your life or anyone else’s life.”

The law was named after Paul Miller, a 21-year-old Scranton man who was killed in 2010 in Monroe County when a distracted driver swerved into his lane.

His mother, Eileen Miller, said she visited his body in the morgue and promised she would advocate for change. She said she would like the legislation to be more strict, but this is a step in the right direction.

“This law will absolutely save lives — there’s no doubt,” Miller said.

There needs to be a cultural change toward safe driving and putting electronics down, she said.

“I would really not have anybody get citations. I would rather them just obey by the law and just put the phone down and not do it,” Miller said. “This was never, ever, ever about citations. This was always about driving safe.”