BuckledAppBuckledApp: Drive without Distractions

Seatbelt and hands-free phone laws by state

Two laws cover most of what keeps drivers alive: buckle up, and keep the phone out of your hand. Here is what each state requires, what a ticket costs, and the extra rules for teen drivers.

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Hands-free states at a glance

Hands-free (no holding the phone while driving): California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia, Michigan.

Texting ban, but adults may still make handheld calls in most places: Texas, Florida, North Carolina.

Seatbelt enforcement at a glance

Primary enforcement (you can be pulled over for the belt alone): California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan.

Secondary enforcement for adults: Pennsylvania, Ohio.

Make the phone enforce it

BuckledApp verifies the seatbelt at 20 MPH and locks distracting apps until the car stops. Free trial.

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Questions people search for

How does BuckledApp detect seatbelt usage?

When the vehicle reaches 20 MPH (32 km/h), BuckledApp asks for a quick selfie. In about 2.5 seconds, AI checks the image for a fastened seatbelt across the chest and shoulder and, from the camera angle and seating position, determines whether the person is the driver or a passenger. No belt means the distracting apps stay locked. A passing check for a passenger unlocks everything immediately; for a driver it starts Driver Focus for the rest of the drive. The photo is analyzed for the check only and is never shown to parents or organizations.

Can my teen bypass the phone lock during an emergency?

Yes. Emergency calling is never blocked, and the Phone app remains available for calls. Navigation apps such as Apple Maps, Google Maps and Waze, plus music and podcast apps, stay accessible during Driver Focus. Only distracting apps — social media, video and games — are locked while the vehicle is moving, and they unlock automatically once the car has stopped.