North Dakota Truck Driver Phone Law
The federal hand-held ban already binds you here, so holding your phone to talk is citable at an inspection no matter what North Dakota lets the car beside you do. North Dakota bans texting for all drivers and enforces it as a primary offense ($100, N.D. Cent. Code 39-08-23); adults may still make hand-held calls under state law. Get caught distracted during any traffic violation and the state stacks a separate $100 charge.
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).
North Dakota’s rule for all drivers
The federal hand-held ban already binds you here, so holding your phone to talk is citable at an inspection no matter what North Dakota lets the car beside you do. North Dakota bans texting for all drivers and enforces it as a primary offense ($100, N.D. Cent. Code 39-08-23); adults may still make hand-held calls under state law. Get caught distracted during any traffic violation and the state stacks a separate $100 charge.
- Hand-held: Texting ban only
- Texting: Texting banned for all drivers, primary enforcement (N.D. Cent. Code 39-08-23). The broader distracted-driving law (39-08-25, failure to maintain control) is secondary, cited only alongside another violation.
- Fine: $100 for texting, all drivers (N.D. Cent. Code 39-08-23). A separate distracted-driving citation adds another $100 if you commit a traffic offense while distracted (39-08-25). Drivers under 18 may use no device at all in motion.
- Points: State exposure is the $100 fine. The bite for you is federal: a hand-held or texting violation is a CSA serious violation, and two in 3 years disqualify your CDL for 60 days, three for 120 (49 CFR 383.51).
North Dakota Truck Phone Law FAQ
Can truck drivers use a phone in North Dakota?
What is the phone fine in North Dakota?
Is texting while driving illegal in North Dakota?
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://codes.findlaw.com/nd/title-39-motor-vehicles/nd-cent-code-sect-39-08-23/. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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