Indiana Truck Driver Phone Law
The federal hand-held ban is already on you in Indiana, since 392.82 travels with your CDL. Indiana matches it for everyone: no holding or using a device while driving (Ind. Code §9-21-8-59), primary enforcement since July 2020. A violation is a Class C infraction up to $500 and adds 4 points to your license. Only a bona-fide emergency call to 911 is exempt. Mount it or leave it alone.
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).
Indiana’s rule for all drivers
The federal hand-held ban is already on you in Indiana, since 392.82 travels with your CDL. Indiana matches it for everyone: no holding or using a device while driving (Ind. Code §9-21-8-59), primary enforcement since July 2020. A violation is a Class C infraction up to $500 and adds 4 points to your license. Only a bona-fide emergency call to 911 is exempt. Mount it or leave it alone.
- Hand-held: Hand-held ban — all drivers
- Texting: Hand-held use banned for all drivers (Ind. Code §9-21-8-59), primary enforcement. Holding or supporting the device at all is illegal, texting or not.
- Fine: Class C infraction, up to $500; 4 points added to your Indiana driving record (points assessed since July 1, 2021).
- Points: 4 points on your Indiana license per violation; accumulated points push toward suspension. The same act is also a CSA serious violation federally.
Indiana Truck Phone Law FAQ
Can truck drivers use a phone in Indiana?
What is the phone fine in Indiana?
Is texting while driving illegal in Indiana?
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 Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it.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://www.in.gov/indot/files/fact-sheet-1.pdf. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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