Louisiana Truck Driver Phone Law
The federal hand-held ban already applies to you in Louisiana under 49 CFR 392.82. As of August 2025 Louisiana bans hand-held use for every driver too (R.S. 32:59, Act 288), so the state rule finally matches your federal one. No holding or physically supporting the phone. It's a secondary offense most places ($100) but primary in school and highway construction zones, where it jumps to $250 and doubles if you crash.
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).
Louisiana’s rule for all drivers
The federal hand-held ban already applies to you in Louisiana under 49 CFR 392.82. As of August 2025 Louisiana bans hand-held use for every driver too (R.S. 32:59, Act 288), so the state rule finally matches your federal one. No holding or physically supporting the phone. It's a secondary offense most places ($100) but primary in school and highway construction zones, where it jumps to $250 and doubles if you crash.
- Hand-held: Hand-held ban — all drivers
- Texting: New for 2025: Louisiana now bans hand-held use for every driver (R.S. 32:59, Act 288), which folds in texting and replaces the old texting-only statute. Enforcement is secondary in most places — you're cited only alongside another stop — but primary in school zones and highway construction zones, where the fine rises to $250.
- Fine: $100 first offense outside a zone (a judge may reduce it to $50 plus up to 15 hours community service); $250 in a school zone or highway construction zone (reducible to $100 plus service); the fine doubles if you crash during the violation. Effective August 1, 2025; officers issued warnings only until January 1, 2026.
- Points: Louisiana adds no license points for R.S. 32:59; it is a fine-only offense at the state level. Your CDL risk sits on the federal side: hand-held use is a CSA serious violation, and two in any 3-year period disqualify you for 60 days.
Louisiana Truck Phone Law FAQ
Can truck drivers use a phone in Louisiana?
What is the phone fine in Louisiana?
Is texting while driving illegal in Louisiana?
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.legis.la.gov/legis/ViewDocument.aspx?d=1425602. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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