LANSING, Mich – Starting Thursday, teen drivers with Level 1 or Level 2 licenses under the Graduated Driver Licensing program will be prohibited from using a cell phone while driving.
The law is known as Kelsey’s Law. It was named in honor of Kelsey Raffaele, 17, of Sault Ste. Marie, who was tragically killed in a cell phone-related crash in 2010.
The Put Your Phone in Park public information campaign will include billboards, posters and brochures to encourage compliance.
Violations of Kelsey’s Law will be a civil infraction with fines up to $100 as well as possible additional costs up to $100. Exemptions to the law include emergency situations and hands-free devices.
The Michigan Legislature approved Kelsey’s Law at the end of the 2012 legislative session.
