Legislation has been enacted which became effective October 28, 2012 making it a "serious traffic violation" for CDL holders if convicted of using a mobile telephone and/or portable electronic device while operating a commercial motor vehicle. A conviction will mean a mandatory suspension of the commercial drivers license.

Under the new provisions of the law, "using" a mobile telephone as meaning the pressing of more than a single button to dial or answer the phone. Moreover, the operator of a commercial motor vehicle is prohibited from using a mobile telephone or a portable electronic while the vehicle is temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device, or other momentary delays. Instead, the operator must pull to the side of or off the public highway to use the phone or texting device.

The law also defines "using" a device in instances where the operator holds a portable electronic device in a conspicuous manner while the vehicle is temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device, or other momentary delays.

A portable electronic device is defined as any hand-held mobile telephone, personal digital assistant, hand-held device with mobile data access, laptop computer, pager, broadband personnel communication device, two-way messaging device, electronic game, or portable computing device or any other electronic device when used to input, write, send, receive, or read text for present or future communication.

No electronic device is worth losing your commercial drivers license over. Play it wise and pull to the side!