Rhode Island currently has the standard ban on cell phone use by school bus drivers and drivers under 18. The Rhode Island Senate has also approved a texting ban, which will be picked up again in September.
THE PENDING LEGISLATURE
a person operating a moving motor vehicle who, by means of an electronic wireless communications device, other than a voice-activated global positioning or navigation system that is permanently affixed to the vehicle, sends, reads, or writes a text message, is guilty of a traffic infraction. A person shall not be considered to be sending, reading, or writing a text message when he or she reads, selects, or enters a phone number or name in a wireless communications device for the purpose of making a phone call.
