Are You Guilty? Most People Don’t Know This is Illegal in Bozeman

With so many new people moving to Bozeman, this has become a major issue.

I commute to and from Manhattan every day for work and am blown away by the number of people that I see talking on their cell phones while driving.

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We all know that there are certain things you can't do while operating a motor vehicle. Some of it is common sense. For instance, you shouldn't get behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The state of Montana doesn't have a law that restricts the use of cell phones or electronic devices while you're driving, but it is illegal within Bozeman city limits. Fortunately, I only received a warning.

To be honest, I wasn't aware of the law and had to learn the hard way. I got pulled over a couple of years ago and was informed by the officer that it was illegal within city limits.

Bozeman's Law Regarding Cell Phone Use While Driving

Here's the law according to Bozeman Municipal Code 36.03.275:

No person shall use or have in their immediate physical possession a handheld electronic communication device while operating a motor vehicle, motorcycle, quadricycle, or bicycle on a public highway as defined in Sect. 61- 1- 101(27), MCA, within the City limits.

There are a few exceptions though. For instance, it doesn't apply to anyone reporting a health, fire, safety, or police emergency. It also doesn't apply to local law enforcement or emergency responders.

If you get caught using your cell phone while driving within Bozeman city limits, you get fined $100 for each offense. Using your cell phone while driving can also be very dangerous and lead to an accident or worse. Your best bet is to hang up and drive.