'Kelsey's Law' banning young drivers from using cellphones takes effect Thursday

The law banning young drivers from using cellphones while driving is set to take effect on Thursday.

Known as Kelsey’s Law, the legislation will ban drivers with a Level 1 or Level 2 driver’s license from using a cellphone while they are operating a motor vehicle. Gov. Rick Snyder signed the legislation into law in January.

A Level 1 driver’s license is commonly called a learner’s permit and is available to people who are at least 14 years and 8 months old. A Level 2 license is available to people who are 16 years old and have at least six months of experience with a Level 1 license. Drivers typically move to a Level 3 license at age 17.

The law is named after Kelsey Raffaele, a 17 year old driver from Sault Ste. Marie who was killed when she was talking on her cellphone on Jan. 24, 2010.

The law makes it a civil infraction for drivers with a Level 1 or Level 2 license to be using their cellphones while driving. Officers are allowed to stop a driver if they believe the person is using a cellphone without the proper license.

The law does not apply to a driver who is using a voice-operated system integrated into the vehicle.

More than 30 states have similar laws banning teenage drivers from using cellphones while driving.

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.