Ohio's Crackdown on Distracted Driving Begins.

Ohio's new law against using phones while driving takes effect, allowing police to pull over drivers for phone use without any other pretext. The law comes with a six-month grace period in which law enforcement will give warnings to educate the public. The law carries several exceptions, including allowances for hands-free operation, but Ohio Department of Transportation guidance warns that anything more than a single touch or swipe is against the law. Once police begin issuing citations in early October, successive violations will face escalating penalties.