HB 702 -- Commercial Driver's License

Co-Sponsors:  Schlottach, Crawford, Rector, Threlkeld, Dusenberg,
Jones, Avery, Green

This bill makes numerous modifications to Missouri's commercial
driver's license law in order to comply with rules of the Federal
Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

OFFENSES

(1)  Offenses involving holders of a Commercial Driver's License
(CDL) or persons operating a commercial vehicle must be forwarded
to the Director of the Department of Revenue and the State
Highway Patrol within five days after entry of a plea.  Offenses
involving the use of alcohol or drugs must be reported
immediately;

(2)  CDL holders will be subject to the driver-improvement
program; and

(3)  CDL holders will not be subject to limited driving
privileges if their driving privileges are suspended, revoked,
canceled, denied, or disqualified.

TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS

The bill adds to the list of serious traffic violations the
following:

(1)  Driving a commercial motor vehicle without a CDL;

(2)  Driving a commercial vehicle without a CDL in possession;
and

(3)  Driving a commercial vehicle without the proper CDL class or
endorsement.

STATE RECORD CHECKS

(1)  Applicants for a CDL must disclose the names of all states
which have issued them a CDL during the previous 10-year period;

(2)  The Director of the Department of Revenue is required before
the initial issuance of a CDL and for the first renewal to obtain
driving record information from any state licensing system in
which the person had been issued a license; and

(3)  A CDL driving record must contain a complete history of the
driver, including information and convictions from previous
states of licensure.

DISQUALIFICATION

The director is required to disqualify any driver the U. S.
Secretary of Transportation has determined to constitute an
imminent hazard.

OUT-OF-SERVICE ORDER

Any driver who violates an out-of-service order is subject to a
civil penalty of not less than $1,100 and not more than $2,750 or
an amount determined by the U. S. Secretary of Transportation.

SCHOOL BUS ENDORSEMENT

Any individual who operates a school bus must meet the
requirements for and be issued a school bus endorsement as
required by the U. S. Secretary of Transportation.

SENTENCING

No federal, state, county, municipal, or local court can defer
imposition of judgment, suspend imposition of sentence, or allow
an individual who possesses or is required to possess a CDL to
enter into a diversion program that will prevent a conviction for
any violation of any traffic law from appearing on the driver's
record maintained by the Director of the Department of Revenue.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:12 am