New Cell Phone Law Affects Wisconsin Drivers Starting October 1

If you're driving in Wisconsin in a posted Work Zone - you'd better lose the cell phone.  A new state law takes effect on October 1 making it illegal to be on a cell phone while you're operating a vehicle in a Work Zone.

The ticket for the first offense is $40 and it will negatively affect your insurance rates.

One in four vehicle crashes in the State of Wisconsin involve a driver who was on a cell phone at the time of the incident.  This new law seeks to encourage drivers to be more alert and cautious while they travel through road construction work zones throughout the state;  the work crews depend upon motorists to be alert in order to do their job safely.

It will still be legal to operate a cell phone with a Blue Tooth or similar hands-free device.  One other exemption to the rule is drivers who are using their cell phone to dial 911 to report an emergency.