Texting while driving; change from civil to traffic violation and increase penalty.

HB 187 would reclassify texting while driving from a civil violation to a traffic violation in Mississippi, imposing a $100 fine per offense. The bill prohibits drivers from manually holding a phone to write, send, or read text messages (including social media) while operating a vehicle, excluding voice-operated or hands-free devices. It requires the Department of Public Safety to track citation data, including operator age, race, and whether additional violations or crashes occurred. The bill died in committee on February 4, 2025, and has not become law.