What is the fine for texting and driving in Arizona?
Short answer
As of September 12, 2026, a first handheld-device violation in Arizona runs $75 to $149, and a repeat violation now carries a $400 fine under HB 2109. Watching or streaming video while driving is prohibited even hands-free.
Arizona's hands-free law penalties changed on September 12, 2026, when House Bill 2109 took effect.
First offense: $75 to $149 — unchanged from the prior law.
Second or subsequent offense: now a $400 fine, a significant increase from the prior range.
Video content: the updated law prohibits watching, recording, or streaming video while driving even in hands-free mode. A phone in a dashboard mount playing video is now a violation, whether or not the driver touches it.
Crashes involving motorcyclists: when a violation causes a crash involving a motorcyclist, an additional $150 penalty applies on top of the base fine.
Two things are worth knowing beyond the dollar amounts. First, the underlying rule hasn't changed: holding or supporting a phone with your body while driving has been prohibited in Arizona for years — the update raises what repeat violations cost and closes the video gap. Second, a citation under this law can matter beyond the fine. Arizona assigns crash responsibility in percentages under its pure comparative fault system, and a documented device violation at the time of a crash is a fact that can enter that discussion.