California Truck Driver Phone Law
The federal hand-held ban follows your CDL into California (49 CFR 392.82) — no holding, no dialing past one button, no reaching. California bans holding a phone for every driver (Veh. Code §23123.5), a primary offense. The base fine is small ($20 first, $50 after), but fees push a first ticket past $160. A second conviction within 36 months adds one point to your record (Veh. Code §12810.3).
The federal ban applies here first
Federal law rides with your CDL in every state. FMCSA 49 CFR 392.82 bans all hand-held phone use while driving a CMV: no holding it to talk, no dialing more than a single button, no reaching for the phone out of your belted seat. A separate rule (49 CFR 392.80) bans texting and manual data entry. Only hands-free counts as compliant (mounted or in close reach, one-touch or voice, no reaching), and the only exception is calling 911. "Driving" includes sitting at a red light or stuck in traffic; you are clear only once fully off the road and stopped. Penalties run up to $2,750 for the driver and $11,000 for the carrier. It is a CSA serious violation: two convictions in any 3-year period disqualify your CDL for 60 days, three or more for 120 days (49 CFR 383.51).
California’s rule for all drivers
The federal hand-held ban follows your CDL into California (49 CFR 392.82) — no holding, no dialing past one button, no reaching. California bans holding a phone for every driver (Veh. Code §23123.5), a primary offense. The base fine is small ($20 first, $50 after), but fees push a first ticket past $160. A second conviction within 36 months adds one point to your record (Veh. Code §12810.3).
- Hand-held: Hand-held ban — all drivers
- Texting: Texting banned for all drivers (Veh. Code §23123.5 and §23123); primary enforcement.
- Fine: Base fine $20 for a first offense, $50 for each later offense; with state penalty assessments a first ticket runs roughly $160-plus and can exceed $280 on a repeat. Amounts vary by county.
- Points: One DMV point is added only for a second hand-held conviction within 36 months (Veh. Code §12810.3, effective July 2021); a first offense adds no point. Federal CSA: two 392.82 convictions in 3 years disqualify the CDL for 60 days, three or more for 120 days.
California Truck Phone Law FAQ
Can truck drivers use a phone in California?
What is the phone fine in California?
Is texting while driving illegal in California?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=23123.5.&lawCode=VEH. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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