Kansas Truck Driver Phone Law
The federal hand-held ban rides with your CDL in Kansas. Kansas bans texting for all drivers and enforces it as a primary offense, so an officer can stop the four-wheeler next to you for texting alone ($60, K.S.A. 8-15,111). State law still lets the public hold the phone for a voice call, but 392.82 does not: hold your phone to talk and you are citable at inspection and scored on your carrier's CSA record.
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).
Kansas’s rule for all drivers
The federal hand-held ban rides with your CDL in Kansas. Kansas bans texting for all drivers and enforces it as a primary offense, so an officer can stop the four-wheeler next to you for texting alone ($60, K.S.A. 8-15,111). State law still lets the public hold the phone for a voice call, but 392.82 does not: hold your phone to talk and you are citable at inspection and scored on your carrier's CSA record.
- Hand-held: Texting ban only
- Texting: Texting banned for all drivers, primary enforcement (K.S.A. 8-15,111). Handheld voice calls stay legal for the general public; dialing a number to place a call is a stated exception.
- Fine: $60 for texting, all drivers (K.S.A. 8-15,111). Kansas has no driver point system.
- Points: Kansas has no driver point system, so the state hit is just the $60 fine. The real CDL risk is federal: a CSA serious violation, two in 3 years disqualify your CDL for 60 days, three for 120 (49 CFR 383.51).
Kansas Truck Phone Law FAQ
Can truck drivers use a phone in Kansas?
What is the phone fine in Kansas?
Is texting while driving illegal in Kansas?
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 Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it.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://ksrevisor.gov/statutes/chapters/ch08/008_015_0111.html. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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