DMVZoneBlogCalifornia drivers cannot hold a phone at all while driving. A mounted phone can be touched once with one finger. A first ticket is a $20 base fine; a second within 36 months adds a point.
In California you may not hold a phone while driving, even at a red light. A phone mounted on the dash or windshield can be used with a single tap or swipe. The base fine is $20 for a first ticket (about $162 with fees) and $50 after that, and a second ticket within 36 months adds 1 point.
California's rule, Vehicle Code section 23123.5, is about your hands. Voice commands and a mounted phone are fine. Picking the phone up to check a map, scroll music or read a text is not.
| Situation | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Hands-free call through the car's speakers | Yes, if you are 18 or older |
| Tapping a mounted phone once to start navigation | Yes |
| Holding the phone to look at a map | No |
| Texting at a red light | No |
| Any phone use, even hands-free, under 18 | No |
Set your music and route before you shift into drive. One touch is legal, but a string of taps is a ticket.
Can you hold your phone at a red light in California?
Answer: B. The law applies while driving, including when stopped in traffic.
A 17-year-old wants to take a hands-free call. Is that legal?
Answer: B. Drivers under 18 cannot use a phone at all, even hands-free.
When does a California phone ticket add a point?
Answer: B. Since July 1, 2021, a second conviction within 36 months adds 1 point.
The law covers any handheld wireless device. Treat a watch like a phone and do not use it while driving.
The base fine is $50, plus assessments and fees, and it can add a point.
Adults can send messages by voice in hands-free mode. Drivers under 18 cannot.
Checked against these pages on November 12, 2026. Laws change, so open the source before you rely on a number.
Rules and fees change. Always confirm the details with the official California DMV or motor vehicle agency before you act. DMVZone practice questions are written to teach the rules and are not copies of the real test.
A state pilot law, AB 645, lets six California cities use speed cameras. San Francisco started ticketing in August 2025. Fines run $50 to $500, mailed to the car's owner, with no points.
Passing a California school bus with flashing red lights is $150 to $250 the first time, up to $1,000 the second, and a one-year suspension for a third within three years. Since 2026, move over applies to any car with hazards on.
Most California tickets are 1 point, and DUI or hit-and-run is 2. Reach 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 or 8 in 36 and the DMV puts you on a year of probation with a six-month suspension.