"No Texting" Law

In North Carolina it is unlawful for any person to operate a vehicle on a public street or highway or public vehicular area while using a mobile telephone to:

(1)        Manually enter multiple letters or text in the device as a means of communicating with another person; or

(2)        Read any electronic mail or text message transmitted to the device or stored within the device, provided that this prohibition shall not apply to any name or number stored in the device nor to any caller identification information.

Exceptions:

(1)        The operator of a vehicle that is lawfully parked or stopped.

(2)        Any of the following while in the performance of their official duties: a law enforcement officer; a member of a fire department; or the operator of a public or private ambulance.

(3)        The use of factory‑installed or aftermarket global positioning systems (GPS) or wireless communications devices used to transmit or receive data as part of a digital dispatch system.

(4)        The use of voice operated technology.

Penalty:

Any violation of this section shall be an infraction and shall be punishable by a fine of one hundred dollars ($ 100.00) and the costs of court.

No drivers license points or insurance surcharge shall be assessed as a result of a violation of this section.