HOUSTON – If you’re stopped at a red light in Texas and tempted to check a text, scroll social media, or answer a message, you could still be breaking the law.
Texas bans drivers from reading, writing, or sending electronic messages while operating a vehicle, and that includes while sitting in traffic or waiting at a stoplight.
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What is illegal in Texas?
Under Texas law, drivers cannot:
- Text while driving
- Read or send emails
- Use messaging apps or social media behind the wheel
- Hold or use a handheld device in a school zone
- Use handheld devices at all if under 18 years old
TxDOT says distracted driving remains a major problem statewide. In 2025 alone, distracted driving was linked to more than 86,000 crashes in Texas, killing 299 people and seriously injuring thousands more.
So… does a red light count as “driving”?
Texas law focuses on whether you are operating a vehicle on a roadway, not whether your car is moving at that exact second.
That means if you’re sitting at a red light, stopped in traffic, or creeping through congestion, officers can still cite you for texting or messaging on your phone.
Unlike some states with strict “hands-free” laws, Texas does not completely ban holding a phone while driving statewide. However, texting, emailing, and similar electronic messaging are illegal.
What about GPS or music apps?
Texas law does allow some phone use behind the wheel, including:
- Using GPS navigation
- Playing music
- Reporting an emergency or crime
- Hands-free calls in many areas
But officers may still stop drivers if they believe the phone use is distracting or unsafe.
How much is the fine?
Drivers caught violating Texas’ texting law can face:
- Up to $99 for a first offense
- Up to $200 for repeat offenses
Some Texas cities also have stricter local ordinances that limit handheld phone use even more.
TxDOT’s advice: Pull over first
TxDOT recommends drivers completely pull off the road and stop in a safe place before using their phones for calls or texts.
The agency’s message is simple: “Phones down, eyes up, Texas.”