The Vermont Statutes Online
The Vermont Statutes Online have been updated to include the actions of the 2023 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 23 : Motor Vehicles
Chapter 039 : Commercial Driver's License Act
(Cite as: 23 V.S.A. § 4125)-
§ 4125. Texting violations; handheld mobile telephone violations
(a) Definitions. As used in this section, “driving” means operating a commercial motor vehicle on a public highway, including while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device, or other momentary delays. “Driving” does not include operating a commercial motor vehicle with or without the motor running when the operator has moved the vehicle to the side of or off a highway and has halted in a location where the vehicle can safely remain stationary.
(b) General prohibition on texting.
(1) No operator shall engage in texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle.
(2) Texting while driving is permissible by operators of a commercial motor vehicle when necessary to communicate with law enforcement officials or other emergency services.
(3) No person may be issued traffic complaints alleging a violation of this section and a violation of section 1099 of this title from the same incident.
(c) General prohibition on use of handheld mobile telephones.
(1) No operator shall use a handheld mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle.
(2) Use of a handheld mobile telephone is permissible by operators of a commercial motor vehicle when necessary to communicate with law enforcement officials or other emergency services.
(d) Motor carriers.
(1) A motor carrier shall not allow or require its drivers to engage in texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle.
(2) A motor carrier shall not allow or require its drivers to use a handheld mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle. (Added 2013, No. 20, § 1; amended 2019, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 254.)
