Texas Law on Phone Use at Red Lights: Legal but Risky

According to TxDOT, cellphone laws can vary by city. Texting while driving in Texas carries stiff penalties. Since September 1, 2017, Texas law prohibits drivers from reading, composing, or sending text messages while operating a vehicle. Violators face fines up to $200 or risk causing accidents.

Per the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2025, distracted driving caused 86,384 crashes on Texas roads, resulting in 2,437 serious injuries and 299 deaths, with the highest crash rates among young drivers.

Is texting at a red light illegal? State law does not explicitly ban it. The statute states: "An operator commits an offense if the operator uses a portable wireless communication device to read, write, or send an electronic message while operating a motor vehicle unless the vehicle is stopped." Enforcement requires the act to occur in view of an officer or be proven by evidence.

Police may use the legal principle of negligence per se, treating statute violations as automatic negligence. Evidence in court can include:

• Cell phone records from subpoenas showing usage timing
• Witness testimony observing phone use
• Police reports on officer observations or admissions
• Vehicle data recording driver distraction patterns

April 23, 2026