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Kentucky · Snapshot 09/05/2026

KRS 281A.190: Disqualification -- Suspension, revocation, or cancellation -- Right to

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  1. KRS Chapter 281A

appeal.

(1) A person who holds or is required to hold a CDL shall be disqualified from driving

a commercial motor vehicle for a period of one (1) year if convicted of:

(a) Driving or being in physical control of a motor vehicle under the influence of

alcohol or a controlled substance;

(b) Driving or being in physical control of a motor vehicle while the alcohol

concentration of the person's blood or breath or urine is four hundredths (0.04)

or more;

(c) Leaving the scene of an accident involving a motor vehicle driven by a person

who holds or is required to hold a CDL;

(d) Using a motor vehicle in the commission of any felony listed in KRS 186.560;

(e) Refusing to submit t o testing as required by KRS 281A.220 when driving a

motor vehicle;

(f) Committing a first violation of driving a commercial motor vehicle while the

person's commercial driver's license is revoked, suspended, or canceled, or

when the person is disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle;

or

(g) Causing a fatality through negligent or criminal operation of a commercial

motor vehicle.

(2) A person who holds or is required to hold a CDL shall be disqualified for life if

convicted of two (2) or more violations of any of the offenses specified in

subsection (1) of this section or any combination of those offenses arising from two

(2) or more separate incidents. The provisions of this subsection shall only apply to

convictions that occurred after the di squalification dates established by the Federal

Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The Transportation Cabinet shall set forth

those dates in an administrative regulation promulgated in accordance with KRS

Chapter 13A.

(3) If any violation specified in su bsection (1) of this section occurred while

transporting a hazardous material required to be placarded, the person who holds or

is required to hold a CDL shall be disqualified for a period of three (3) years.

(4) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a period of suspension, revocation, or

disqualification imposed under the provisions of this chapter shall not be reduced.

However, in accordance with the provisions of 49 C.F.R. pt. 383, the cabinet may

establish guidelines including conditions under which a disqualification of not less

than ten (10) years may be imposed.

(5) A person who holds or is required to hold a CDL shall be disqualified from driving

a commercial motor vehicle for life if the person is co nvicted of any felony in

which a commercial motor vehicle was used and that involved:

(a) The manufacture, distribution, or dispensing of a controlled substance, or

possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense a controlled

substance; or

(b) An act or practice of severe forms of trafficking in persons.

(6) A person who holds or is required to hold a CDL shall be disqualified from driving

a commercial motor vehicle for a period of sixty (60) days if convicted of two (2)

serious traffic viola tions, or one hundred twenty (120) days consecutively if

convicted of three (3) serious traffic violations, committed in a commercial motor

vehicle arising from separate incidents occurring within a three (3) year period.

(7) A person who holds or is requi red to hold a CDL shall be disqualified for the first

offense from driving a commercial motor vehicle for six (6) months if the person

has been convicted of committing any of those offenses enumerated in KRS

186.610 involving a commercial motor vehicle, co mmercial driver's license, or

application for that license. For the second and each subsequent offense, the person

shall be disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle for a period of one

(1) year.

(8) The cabinet shall deny a person a commercia l driver's license or shall suspend,

revoke, or cancel his or her commercial driving privilege, subject to a hearing

conducted in accordance with KRS 189A.107, when the cabinet has reason to

believe that the person refused to submit to a test to determine his or her alcohol

concentration while driving a commercial motor vehicle.

(9) If a person who holds or is required to hold a CDL is convicted of any of the

railroad crossing offenses or conduct enumerated in KRS 189.500, 189.560, and

189.565, then the per son shall be disqualified from operating a commercial motor

vehicle for a period of:

(a) Sixty (60) days for the first offense;

(b) One hundred twenty (120) days for the second offense within a three (3) year

period; and

(c) One (1) year for the third or subsequent offense within a three (3) year period.

(10) If a person who holds or is required to hold a CDL violates an out -of-service order

while transporting nonhazardous materials, then the person shall be disqualified

from operating a commercial motor vehicle for a period of:

(a) One hundred eighty (180) days for the first offense;

(b) Two (2) years for the second offense in a separate incident within a ten (10)

year period; and

(c) Three (3) years for the third or subsequent offense in a separate inciden t

within a ten (10) year period.

(11) If a person who holds or is required to hold a CDL violates an out -of-service order

while transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded under the 49 U.S.C.

sec. 5101 et seq., or operating a commercial motor vehicle designed to transport

sixteen (16) or more passengers, including the driver, then the person shall be

disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle for a period of:

(a) One hundred eighty (180) days for the first offense; and

(b) Three (3 ) years for the second or subsequent offense in a separate incident

within a ten (10) year period.

(12) A person who violates the provisions of KRS 281A.205 shall be fined fifty dollars

($50) for the first offense. For a subsequent offense, a violator shal l be fined one

hundred dollars ($100) and shall have his or her school bus endorsement suspended

for a period of six (6) months.

(13) After disqualifying a commercial driver's license holder or suspending, revoking, or

canceling a commercial driver's licen se, the Transportation Cabinet shall update its

records to reflect that action within ten (10) days of receipt. After disqualifying a

commercial driver's license holder or suspending, revoking, or canceling an out -of-

state commercial driver's license holde r's privilege to operate a commercial motor

vehicle for at least sixty (60) days, the Transportation Cabinet shall notify the

licensing authority of the state which issued the commercial driver's license or

commercial learner's permit with this information within ten (10) days. The

notification shall include both the disqualification and the violation that resulted in

the disqualification, suspension, cancellation, or revocation.

(14) Upon notice from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that a d river has

been determined to be an imminent hazard and has been disqualified from operating

a commercial motor vehicle, the cabinet shall act in accordance with the provisions

of 49 C.F.R. sec. 383.52. The cabinet shall notify the driver of the disqualific ation,

which shall not exceed one (1) year in duration, and of the right to appeal to the

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration in accordance with 49 C.F.R. sec.

383.52.

Collected 2026-09-05T20:53:35Z. Source file · JSON

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