A system, device, and method for tracking and monitoring mobile phone usage while operating a vehicle in order to deter and prevent such usage are disclosed. The system comprises a device that engages with a vehicle and an application on a mobile phone to monitor the phone's usage in a vehicle and to prevent certain functions of the phone while the vehicle is being operated. The device may also record information about the different states of the device, such as the number of times and length of time the device is in each state, as well as the count and time that an audible and/or visual alarm is on, which data is transmitted to the mobile phone application. The device, in combination with the mobile phone application, may record information about certain behaviors the user engages in on the mobile phone while operating a vehicle.