Traveling To Philly? Watch Out For the Cell Phone Ban

If you are planning on traveling into Philly, watch out, Philadelphia police have begun enforcing the city's new ban on handheld cell phones while driving…

…or bicycling and skateboarding or scooters and in-line skates (does walking count?)…

…whether you are chatting or texting.

If you are caught with a cell phone in your hand, while driving moving, expect to pay a $75 fine for the first offense.

That means, under the new ban, you can talk on your hands-free set. You just cannot be touching your phone, so no texting or dialing out. The fines will double to $150 or more if the ticket isn't paid.

The citation is a city issued fine, not a traffic citation, which means citations won't result in points against your drivers' record.

Want to challenge your citation? Don't go to Traffic Court.

Because it's a code violation, the citations must be appealed to the Office of Administrative Review, which falls under the city's Finance Department.

One exception to the ban is that state police will not be enforcing the local law on the interstates that it patrols within city limits, including the Schuylkill Expressway, I-95, and the Vine Street expressway.

So, for us New Jersey residents this law is nothing new, unless you forgot, the state also has a cell phone ban already in effect.

Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel….(yea you remember that old Doors song)