COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL) SUSPENSIONS IN INDIANA
CDL’s are suspended more easily than standard licenses. This is because commercial drivers are held to very high standards. The IN BMV works with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to regulate commercial driving laws. You are required to notify your employer within 30 days of any traffic conviction. Also, you must notify your employer of any license suspension, revocation, or cancellation, and give them information regarding all your driving jobs you’ve had over the past 10 years.
Committing any of the following offenses leads to a disqualified or suspended commercial driver’s license (CDL): Major Offenses, Serious Traffic Violations, Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing (RRHGC) offenses while operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), and Violating Out-Of-Service Orders (OOSO) while operating a CMV.
Note: Your license can be suspended for out-of-state convictions. If you are NOT an Indiana resident, your home state will still receive a notice.
MAJOR OFFENSES:
- Alcohol- and drug-related offenses, such as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04%, or refusing to take a blood or breath test (violating the implied consent law).
- Leaving the scene of an accident.
- Using the commercial vehicle to commit a felony, including the manufacturing and distributing of a controlled substance.
- Causing a death due to negligent CMV operation.
Operating a commercial vehicle while you have a disqualified, suspended, or revoked commercial driver’s license: You can possibly be fined up to $5,000 or even be put in jail for driving without a valid CMV. Also, employers must not allow their drivers who have disqualified CDLs to drive a commercial vehicle, and can also be fined up to $5,000 or jailed for doing so.
Whether in a CMV or a non-CMV, major offenses can lead to IN CDL disqualification. The length of time your Indiana commercial driver’s license will be disqualified is based on how many violations you’ve committed:
- 1st violation: 1 year. (3 years if transporting hazardous materials.)
- 2nd violation: Lifetime disqualification. (Possible eligibility for CDL reinstatement after 10 years.)
SERIOUS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS:
- Reckless driving or excessive speeding.
- Improperly changing lanes.
- Following other vehicles too closely.
- Violating any motor vehicle traffic control law that results in a fatal accident.
- Operating a CMV without a CDL, without a CDL on your person, or without the proper CDL endorsements.
SERIOUS TRAFFIC VIOLATION PENALTIES:
- 1st violation: No disqualification.
- 2nd violation within 3 years: 60 days.
- 3rd violation within 3 years: 120 days.
Serious violations committed in a non-commercial vehicle won’t be included UNLESS the violation leads to the suspension, revocation, or cancellation of your license or your regular (non-commercial) driving privileges.
RAILROAD HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING VIOLATIONS:
RRHGC Violations are offenses related to how you operate your Indiana CMV when crossing a railroad. Examples of such violations include:
- Failing to slow down and make sure the tracks are clear.
- Failing to stop when required.
- Driving across the tracks when there isn’t sufficient space for the CMV.
RAILROAD HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING PENALTIES:
- 1st violation: Minimum of 60 days.
- 2nd violation within 3 years: Minimum of 120 days.
- 3rd violation, or any subsequent violations within 3 years: At least 1 year.
OUT-OF-SERVICE ORDER VIOLATIONS:
OOSO Violations of are divided into Category 1 and Category 2 offenses.
Category 1
Category 1 includes those related to vehicles designed to transport at least 16 passengers and those that carry hazardous materials. Category 1 violations come with the following CDL disqualification periods in Indiana:
- 1st violation: Between 180 days and 2 years.
- 2nd violation within 10 years: 3 to 5 years.
Category 2
Category 2 includes violations by drivers NOT in Category 1, and come with the following CDL disqualification periods:
- 1st violation: Between 180 days and 1 year.
- 2nd violation within 10 years: 2 to 5 years.
- 3rd violation: 3 to 5 years.
Financial penalties can also come hand in hand with OSOO violations:
- 1st conviction: Minimum $2,500 fine.
- 2nd convictions (or subsequent convictions): Minimum $5,000 fine.
For even more detailed information on CDL penalties and laws, you can refer to:
- Indiana CDL Manual
- FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Program