Pennsylvania law banning cell phone use while driving now in effect
Whether you're driving or stopped at a light, you can now be pulled over for calling, navigating or even holding your phone.
The Paul Miller Law went into effect at midnight on June 5. Miller was killed by a distracted driver at just 21 years old in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Now, 15 years later, after the work of his family, a law to protect others is in place.
During the law's first year, drivers will get a written warning. Then in 2026, the violation increases to a $50 fine.
This law forces drivers to be off all electronic devices while driving, at a stop sign and even while waiting at a stoplight. If you are touching a device, you can be pulled over.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Texas Ag Commissioner Warns Of Agroterrorism Threat After Fungus Smuggling
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller called for heightened vigilance following the arrest of two Chinese nationals charged with smuggling a dangerous fungus into the United States. 'I am deeply troubled by the recent allegations against two Chinese individuals for supposedly smuggling a dangerous agroterrorism agent into the United States, specifically a fungus that could cause significant damage to crops such as wheat, barley, maize, and rice,' Miller said in a news release on Friday. 'What's even more alarming is that one of the individuals reportedly has ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This raises serious questions about intent and highlights the real threats facing American agriculture and national security.' The suspects, Yunqing Jian, 33, and Zunyong Liu, 34, both citizens of the People's Republic of China, face felony charges, including conspiracy, smuggling goods, making false statements, and visa fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit, The Dallas Express reported on June 4. Court documents allege the pair smuggled Fusarium graminearum, a fungus known to cause 'head blight' in certain crops, through Detroit Metropolitan Airport, intending to research it at a University of Michigan lab. The fungus has caused billions in global crop losses and produces toxins harmful to humans and livestock, leading to symptoms like vomiting, liver damage, and reproductive issues. Miller emphasized the gravity of the threat, stating, 'Any effort to compromise our food supply or harm our agricultural commodities will be met with zero tolerance, and we are prepared to support any action that protects our producers and the integrity of our food system.' He praised the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other federal agencies under the Trump administration for their swift response, adding, 'We must continue to strengthen biosecurity protocols and protect our agricultural research institutions from foreign interference. Our food security is national security, and we will not let our guard down.' Authorities allege Jian, who worked in a University of Michigan science lab, received funding from the Chinese government for work related to the pathogen. Her electronic devices showed close ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Her boyfriend, Liu, allegedly admitted to smuggling the fungus to 'work on it' with Jian. 'The alleged actions of these Chinese nationals—including a loyal member of the Chinese Communist Party—are of the gravest national security concerns,' said Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr. 'These two aliens have been charged with smuggling a fungus that has been described as a 'potential agroterrorism weapon' into the heartland of America.' Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, noted the exploitation of academic settings for illicit purposes, stating, 'These individuals exploited their access to laboratory facilities at a local university to engage in the smuggling of biological pathogens, an act that posed an imminent threat to public safety.' CBP's Director of Field Operations, Marty C. Raybon, underscored the need to protect agriculture, saying, 'Today's criminal charges levied upon Yunqing Jian and Zunyong Liu are indicative of CBP's critical role in protecting the American people from biological threats that could devastate our agricultural economy and cause harm to humans; especially when it involves a researcher from a major university attempting to clandestinely bring potentially harmful biological materials into the United States.' The investigation is ongoing.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Missing 12-year-old boy found safe
Pittsburgh Public Safety officials say 12-year-old Jonathan Dehaven has been found safe. Police were searching for Jonathan, who was last seen in the 600 block of Brookline Boulevard around 9 a.m. on Friday. He was reported to be wearing black high-top vans, a brown hoodie with a Rick and Morty graphic and shorts. Jonathan is 5 feet tall and weighs 110 pounds with light brown hair and brown eyes. Police asked anyone with information to call 412-323-7141 or 911. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Two foreign nationals charged with stalking a Los Angeles artist who criticized Xi Jinping
Two foreign nationals were charged with stalking a Los Angeles-based artist who has criticized Chinese President Xi Jinping, federal officials said. Cui Guanghai, 43, of China, and John Miller, 63, of the U.K. and a U.S. lawful permanent resident, were charged with interstate stalking, conspiracy to commit interstate stalking, smuggling and violating the Arms Export Control Act, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office Central District of California. 'The defendants allegedly plotted to harass and interfere with an individual who criticized the actions of the People's Republic of China while exercising their constitutionally protected free speech rights within the United States of America,' said FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino in the release. 'The same individuals also are charged with trying to obtain and export sensitive U.S. military technology to China." Read more: Dating apps used in Mexico to lure and kidnap U.S. citizens, officials warn If convicted, Cui and Miller face up to five years in prison for conspiracy, five years for interstate stalking, 20 for violating the Arms Export Control Act and 10 years for smuggling. According to court documents, Cui and Miller allegedly employed two people, who they didn't know were acting on the direction of the FBI, to carry out a plot to stop someone from protesting Xi's appearance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. The victim, who wasn't named in the release, had previously publicly criticized Xi and China's government. Cui and Miller had the alleged victim surveiled, had a tracking device installed on their car, slashed the tires on the car and bought and destroyed statues created by the victim showing Xi and Xi's wife, according to the release. In the spring of 2025, the victim announced that he planned to publicize an online feed showing the two statues; Cui and Miller allegedly paid two other people $36,500 to convince the victim not to display the statues, officials wrote. Those two people were also working with the FBI. Starting in November 2023, Miller and Cui allegedly procured U.S. defense articles, including air defense radar, drones, missiles and cryptographic devices in order to unlawfully export them from the U.S. to China. They talked with two other people about how to export the device, including hiding it in a blender, motor starter, small electronics or shipping it to Hong Kong. Cui and Miller allegedly paid about $10,000 as a deposit for the cryptographic device through a courier in the U.S. and wire transfer to a U.S. bank account, officials said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
