§31310. Disqualifications

(a) Blood Alcohol Concentration Level.-In this section, the blood alcohol concentration level at or above which an individual when operating a commercial motor vehicle is deemed to be driving under the influence of alcohol is .04 percent.

(b) First Violation or Committing Felony.-(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection and subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary of Transportation shall disqualify from operating a commercial motor vehicle for at least one year an individual-

(A) committing a first violation of driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance;

(B) committing a first violation of leaving the scene of an accident involving a commercial motor vehicle operated by the individual; or

(C) using a commercial motor vehicle in committing a felony (except a felony described in subsection (d) of this section).

(2) If the vehicle involved in a violation referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection is transporting hazardous material required to be placarded under section 5103 of this title, the Secretary shall disqualify the individual for at least 3 years.

(c) Second and Multiple Violations.-(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary shall disqualify from operating a commercial motor vehicle for life an individual-

(A) committing more than one violation of driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance;

(B) committing more than one violation of leaving the scene of an accident involving a commercial motor vehicle operated by the individual;

(C) using a commercial motor vehicle in committing more than one felony arising out of different criminal episodes; or

(D) committing any combination of single violations or use described in clauses (A)–(C) of this paragraph.

(2) The Secretary may prescribe regulations establishing guidelines (including conditions) under which a disqualification for life under paragraph (1) of this subsection may be reduced to a period of not less than 10 years.

(d) Controlled Substance Violations.-The Secretary shall disqualify from operating a commercial motor vehicle for life an individual who uses a commercial motor vehicle in committing a felony involving manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing a controlled substance, or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled substance.

(e) Serious Traffic Violations.-(1) The Secretary shall disqualify from operating a commercial motor vehicle for at least 60 days an individual who, in a 3-year period, commits 2 serious traffic violations involving a commercial motor vehicle operated by the individual.

(2) The Secretary shall disqualify from operating a commercial motor vehicle for at least 120 days an individual who, in a 3-year period, commits 3 serious traffic violations involving a commercial motor vehicle operated by the individual.

(f) State Disqualification.-Notwithstanding subsections (b)–(e) of this section, the Secretary does not have to disqualify an individual from operating a commercial motor vehicle if the State that issued the individual a license authorizing the operation has disqualified the individual from operating a commercial motor vehicle under subsections (b)–(e). Revocation, suspension, or cancellation of the license is deemed to be disqualification under this subsection.

(g) Out-of-Service Orders.-(1)(A) To enforce section 392.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations establishing and enforcing an out-of-service period of 24 hours for an individual who violates section 392.5. An individual may not violate an out-of-service order issued under those regulations.

(B) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations establishing and enforcing requirements for reporting out-of-service orders issued under regulations prescribed under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph. Regulations prescribed under this subparagraph shall require at least that an operator of a commercial motor vehicle who is issued an out-of-service order to report the issuance to the individual's employer and to the State that issued the operator a driver's license.

(2) Not later than December 18, 1992, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations establishing sanctions and penalties related to violations of out-of-service orders by individuals operating commercial motor vehicles. The regulations shall require at least that-

(A) an operator of a commercial motor vehicle found to have committed a first violation of an out-of-service order shall be disqualified from operating such a vehicle for at least 90 days and liable for a civil penalty of at least $1,000;

(B) an operator of a commercial motor vehicle found to have committed a 2d violation of an out-of-service order shall be disqualified from operating such a vehicle for at least one year and not more than 5 years and liable for a civil penalty of at least $1,000; and

(C) an employer that knowingly allows or requires an employee to operate a commercial motor vehicle in violation of an out-of-service order shall be liable for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000.

( Pub. L. 103–272, §1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1022 .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised Section	Source (U.S. Code)	Source (Statutes at Large)
31310(a)	49 App.:2707(f).	Oct. 27, 1986, Pub. L. 99–570, §12008, 100 Stat. 3207–177 .
31310(b)	49 App.:2707(a)(1).
31310(c)	49 App.:2707(a)(2).
31310(d)	49 App.:2707(b).
31310(e)	49 App.:2707(c).
31310(f)	49 App.:2707(e).
31310(g)(1)	49 App.:2707(d).
31310(g)(2)	49 App.:2718.	Oct. 27, 1986, Pub. L. 99–570, 100 Stat. 3207–170 , §12020; added Dec. 18, 1991, Pub. L. 102–240, §4009(a), 105 Stat. 2156 .

In subsection (a), the text of 49 App.:2707(f)(1)–(4) (words before 2d comma) is omitted as executed and obsolete. The words "and section 2708 of the Appendix" are omitted as surplus.

In subsection (b)(2), the words "involved in a violation" are substituted for "operated or used in connection with the violation or the commission of the felony" to eliminate unnecessary words. The words "by the Secretary" are omitted as surplus.

Subsection (c)(1)(D) is substituted for 49 App.:2707(a)(2)(A)(iv) for clarity and to eliminate unnecessary words.

In subsection (g)(1)(A), the words "Not later than 1 year after October 27, 1986" are omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (g)(2), before clause (A), the words "Not later than December 18, 1992, the Secretary shall prescribe regulations" are substituted for "The Secretary shall issue regulations" and 49 App.:2718(c) to eliminate executed words. The word "individuals" is substituted for "persons" for clarity and consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. In clause (C), the words "permits, authorizes" are omitted as being included in "allows".

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 521, 31311 of this title.