COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL) SUSPENSIONS IN IDAHO
CDL’s are suspended more easily than standard licenses. This is because commercial drivers are held to very high standards. As a CDL holder, you face the disqualification of your commercial driving privileges due to violations in the following categories: Major offenses, Serious offenses, Railroad crossing violations, Out-of-service offenses.
NOTE: You will have to notify your employer within 30 days if you are convicted of any traffic violation (except parking violations), regardless of whether you were driving a commercial vehicle (CMV) at the time. You must also notify them if your license is suspended, revoked, or cancelled, or if your privileges to drive are disqualified.
MAJOR OFFENSES:
Convictions of the following offenses will result in Idaho CDL disqualification, even if you were operating a private passenger vehicle at the time:
- DUI offenses: The legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in a CMV is 0.04%. Refusal to test for BAC (violating implied consent) will result in disqualification.
- Leaving the scene of an accident.
- Negligently operating your CMV and causing a fatality as a result.
- Driving with a disqualified CDL: This can result in major fines and jail time.
- Felony related to the use of a motor vehicle.
- Felony for use of a commercial vehicle for the transportation of controlled substances: This is an automatic lifetime disqualification.
For most of these offenses, your ID CDL will be disqualified for the following terms:
- 1 year upon your 1st violation. (3 years if transporting hazardous materials at the time of the offense.)
- Lifetime disqualification upon your 2nd violation.
SERIOUS VIOLATIONS:
Serious violations committed in a CMV can lead to the suspension of your commercial driving privileges and include:
- Excessive speeding.
- Reckless driving.
- Illegal passing.
- Improper or erratic lane changing.
- Following too closely.
- Violations of traffic laws (other than parking) that lead to a fatality.
- Driving a CMV without having obtained a CDL, without having it on you, or without obtaining the proper endorsements.
You face the following periods of CDL disqualification for serious offenses accumulated within 3 years:
- 60 days upon your 2nd offense.
- 120 days upon your 3rd offense.
RAILROAD-HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING OFFENSES:
CDL drivers in Idaho must make sure to cross railroad tracks as safely as possible. Railroad crossing violations include:
- Failure to slow down to ensure that tracks are clear.
- Failure to stop when tracks are not clear.
- Failure to stop before driving onto a crossing.
- Failure to obey a traffic control device or officer.
- Failure to ensure undercarriage clearance when crossing the tracks.
You face the following CDL disqualification penalties for the above violations:
- 1st violation: Minimum of 60 days.
- 2nd violation within 3 years: Minimum of 120 days.
- 3rd violation and any subsequent violations within 3 years: Minimum of 1 year.
OUT-OF-SERVICE OFFENSES:
Violating an out-of-service order will disqualify your Idaho CDL for:
- 90 days upon your 1st conviction.
- 180 days if transporting hazardous materials or driving a bus (vehicle designed to hold 16 passengers or more).
- 1 year upon your 2nd conviction.
- 3 years of transporting hazardous materials or driving a bus.
- 3 years for any subsequent offenses.