Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 47-11-901c

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a commercial

motor vehicle or for a public transit driver to operate a motor

vehicle on any street or highway within this state while:

1. Using a cellular telephone or electronic communication

device to write, send, or read a text-based communication; or

2. Using a hand-held mobile telephone while operating a

commercial motor vehicle.

For the purposes of paragraphs 1 and 2 of this subsection, using

a hand-held mobile telephone is permissible by drivers of a

commercial motor vehicle when necessary to communicate with law

enforcement officials, other emergency services or by a public

school bus driver to and from a central dispatch school

transportation department or its equivalent.

B. Any person who violates the provisions of subsection A of

this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor

punishable by a fine of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).

C. As used in this section:

1. "Cellular telephone" means an analog or digital wireless

telephone authorized by the Federal Communications Commission to

operate in the frequency bandwidth reserved for cellular telephones;

2. "Electronic communication device" means an electronic device

that permits the user to manually transmit a communication of

written text by means other than through an oral transfer or wire

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 47. Motor Vehicles Page 510

communication. This term does not include a voice-activated global

positioning or navigation system that is affixed to a motor vehicle;

3. "Operate" means operating on a street or highway, including

while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control

device or other momentary delays. Operating does not include when

the driver of a commercial motor vehicle has moved the vehicle to

the side of or off a street or highway and has halted in a location

where the vehicle can safely remain stationary;

4. "Public transit driver" means:

a. any operator of a public transit vehicle owned and

operated by the State of Oklahoma, any public trust

authority, county, municipality, town or city within

this state,

b. any operator of a school bus or multi-passenger motor

vehicle owned and approved to operate by the State

Department of Education or any school district within

this state, or

c. any operator, conductor or driver of a locomotive

engine, railway car or train of cars; and

5. "Write, send, or read a text-based communication", also

known as texting, means manually entering alphanumeric text into,

sending text, or reading text from, an electronic device, and

includes, but is not limited to, short message service (SMS),

emailing, instant messaging (IM), a command or request to access a

World Wide Web page, or engaging in any other form of electronic

text retrieval or entry, for present or future communication. As

used in this paragraph, texting does not include:

a. using voice commands to select or enter a telephone

number, an extension number, or voicemail retrieval

codes and commands into an electronic device for the

purpose of initiating or receiving a phone call,

b. inputting, selecting, or reading information on a

global positioning system or navigation system, or

c. using a device capable of performing multiple

functions for a purpose that is not otherwise

prohibited in this part, including, but not limited

to, fleet management systems, dispatching devices,

smart phones, citizens band radios, and music players.

D. This act shall not apply to railroads and railroad operating

employees regulated by the Federal Railroad Administration.