Can I use my phone while driving?
No — only hands-free is permitted. A driver may not use a telephone while the vehicle is moving, unless it is operated through a hands-free system. And the ban is not only about calls: the statutory wording also names notebooks, tablets and other smart devices. So not just a call, but texting, scrolling a map and skipping a track with the device in your hand. The fine for an ordinary car driver is €25–100 — written in the statute as 5–20 penalty units — plus one violation-record point. For a cyclist or e-scooter rider the fine is €10–30.
📋 The rules
- A phone in the hand while driving is banned
- Permitted only through a hands-free system
- The ban also covers tablets and smart devices
- Fine for an ordinary car driver: €25–100
- Plus one violation-record point
🔓 Exceptions
- A phone may be used through a genuine hands-free system
- Cyclists and e-scooter riders face €10–30 instead
- The general duty to drive without creating danger applies even at a red light
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The fine is small; the point is what hurts. €25–100 for an ordinary car driver plus one violation-record point. Points accumulate, and that is exactly how a run of apparently trivial offences ends in corrective measures or even loss of the licence. Do not treat a red light as safe harbour: the penalty provision is drafted around use while moving, but the general duty to drive without creating danger never lapses. And be careful with the "hands-free" argument: it safely covers the telephone. Do not assume that operating a mounted tablet while driving is automatically lawful simply because your hands are free.
📎 Official sources
- likumi.lv · Road Traffic Law →
- CSDD · One point for smart devices →
- likumi.lv · Violation points regulation →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I talk hands-free?
Yes. A hands-free system is the sole exception to the ban — whether through the car speakers, an earpiece, or a phone in a cradle. What matters is that you do not hold or operate the device while driving.
Does the ban only cover calls?
No, and this is the commonest misunderstanding. The statute names telephones, notebooks, tablets and other smart devices — so texting, checking a map and skipping a track are all caught.
What is the fine?
For an ordinary car driver, €25–100, written in the statute as 5–20 penalty units. For a cyclist or e-scooter rider it is lower — €10 to €30 for the corresponding offence.
How many points for a phone?
One violation-record point. That sounds trivial, but points accumulate — and it is precisely a run of small offences that eventually triggers corrective measures or the loss of your licence.
Can I pick up the phone at a red light?
The penalty provision is drafted around use while the vehicle is moving. But the general duty to drive without creating danger still applies, so treating a red light as safe harbour is not advisable.
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