Virginia Truck Driver Phone Law
The federal hand-held ban already rides with your CDL here, so holding a phone is a 392.82 violation no matter what state law says. Virginia bars every driver from holding a handheld device while driving (Va. Code §46.2-818.2), enforced as a primary offense: $125 first, $250 for a repeat. Any violation in a highway work zone is a mandatory $250. A conviction adds 3 DMV demerit points.
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).
Virginia’s rule for all drivers
The federal hand-held ban already rides with your CDL here, so holding a phone is a 392.82 violation no matter what state law says. Virginia bars every driver from holding a handheld device while driving (Va. Code §46.2-818.2), enforced as a primary offense: $125 first, $250 for a repeat. Any violation in a highway work zone is a mandatory $250. A conviction adds 3 DMV demerit points.
- Hand-held: Hand-held ban — all drivers
- Texting: Texting banned for all drivers, primary enforcement; folded into the broader handheld ban (Va. Code §46.2-818.2).
- Fine: $125 first offense, $250 second or subsequent, and a mandatory $250 for any violation in a highway work zone.
- Points: 3 DMV demerit points for the state offense. Federally it is also a CSA serious violation: 2 hand-held convictions in 3 years pull your CDL for 60 days.
Virginia Truck Phone Law FAQ
Can truck drivers use a phone in Virginia?
What is the phone fine in Virginia?
Is texting while driving illegal in Virginia?
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 Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it.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://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-818.2/. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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