§17E-1-7. Commercial driver's license required; disqualification for driving without valid license.

(a) On or after April 1, 1992, except when driving under a commercial driver's instruction permit accompanied by the holder of a commercial driver's license valid for the vehicle being driven, no person may drive a commercial motor vehicle unless the person holds a commercial driver's license and applicable endorsements valid for the vehicle they are driving.

(b) No person may drive a commercial motor vehicle while their driving privilege is suspended, revoked, canceled, expired, subject to a disqualification or in violation of an out-of-service order.

(c) Drivers of a commercial motor vehicle shall have a commercial driver's license in their possession at all times while driving.

(d) The Commissioner shall suspend for a period of sixty days the driving privileges of any person who is convicted of operating a commercial motor vehicle:

(1) Without holding a valid commercial driver's license and the applicable endorsements valid for the vehicle he or she is driving in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, or

(2) For any conviction for operating a commercial motor vehicle while his or her privilege to operate a motor vehicle were suspended, revoked, canceled or while disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

(e) Any person not holding a commercial driver's license who is convicted of an offense that requires disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle shall also be disqualified from eligibility for a commercial driver's license for the same time periods as prescribed in federal law or rule or section thirteen of this article for commercial driver's license holders.

(f) The Commissioner shall suspend the driver's license or the privilege to drive in this state of any holder of a commercial driver's license or operator of a commercial motor vehicle upon receiving notice from another state or jurisdiction of failure to pay fines, costs, forfeitures or penalties imposed or failure to appear or failure to respond for any violation of a state or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control in accordance with 49 C.F.R. §384.225 (2009). A suspension under this section will continue until the person provides proof of compliance from the court and pays the reinstatement fee provided in section nine, article three, chapter seventeen-b of this code.