Source: https://www.edmundmichielaw.com/trucking-violations-tickets-virginia.html
Timestamp: 2019-07-21 08:53:53
Document Index: 303986061

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 391', '§ 391', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 52', '§ 46', '§ 16', '§ 390', '§ 392', '§ 391', '§ 391', '§ 391', '§ 391', '§ 392', '§ 392', '§ 391', '§ 395', '§ 395', '§ 395', '§ 395', '§ 395', '§ 395', '§ 392', '§ 392', '§ 392', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 393', '§ 396', '§ 396', '§ 396', '§ 396', '§ 397', '§ 397', '§ 397', '§ 397', '§ 397', '§ 397', '§ 397', '§ 397', '§ 397', '§391', '§392']

Edmund Michie, Esq. ∣ 30+ Years Experience; Trucking violations ∣ Central VA - EDMUND MICHIE, ESQ. ∣ 30+ YEARS EXPERIENCE; CRIMINAL, TRAFFIC, DUI, WORKERS&RSQUO; COMP ∣ CENTRAL VA
Truckers Violating General Traffic Laws and Regulations
​ Truckers are, of course, subject to the same traffic laws as everyone else (see pages for specific topics)
but the effects on a trucker's livelihood can be much more serious
Convictions can lead to CDL suspensions, pursuant to federal or state law (see below), and some employers simply aren't going to tolerate convictions and will suspend or fire a driver. Moreover, federal regulations specify that employers are required to have their drivers provide a certified list of their driving violations, if any, every 12 months. See 49 C.F.R. § 391.25 and 49 CFR § 391.27.
Some judges and prosecutors are sympathetic to the potential effects of a traffic conviction on a truck driver in a given case. Unfortunately, other judges and prosecutors are not willing to cut breaks to truckers on traffic violations because they believe that driving errors are more dangerous when made in a large truck than when made in a car. Also, some judges just see it as their job to make sure a driver's record accurately reflects what happened, regardless of the ramifications.
Consequently, it is all the more important to have an experienced lawyer help you get the best result available. I have represented a very large number of truck drivers on all sorts of violations around central Virginia and would be happy to talk to you about your case in my geographic service area.
Violations of Trucking-Specific Laws and Regulations
Unlike drivers of passenger vehicles, truckers also have to worry about a large number of state and federal laws and regulations that are specific to trucking -- including keeping the proper logs, staying within weight limits, staying off certain roads in any commercial tractor trailer, and staying off certain roads if the truck is over a certain length.
Va. Code § 52-8.4:2 spells out violations that are considered traffic infractions under Virginia law. Specifically, it states as follows:
"Notwithstanding subsection C of § 52-8.4, any violation of any of the following provisions of the regulations adopted pursuant to § 52-8.4 shall constitute traffic infractions as defined in § 46.2-100 and shall be eligible for designation as traffic infractions for which a pretrial waiver of appearance, plea of guilty, and fine payment may be accepted pursuant to § 16.1-69.40:1.
DESCRIPTION OF OFFENSECORRESPONDING SECTION OF THE
(a) General Violations
Marking of motor vehicle 49 C.F.R. § 390.21
Railroad crossing/stopping49 C.F.R. § 392.10
(b) Driver Violations
No medical examiner's certificate 49 C.F.R. § 391.41
Improper medical examiner's certificate 49 C.F.R. § 391.43
Medical certificate invalid 49 C.F.R. § 391.43
No medical waiver 49 C.F.R. § 391.49
Ill/fatigued driver 49 C.F.R. § 392.3
Possess alcoholic beverage 49 C.F.R. § 392.5
Hearing aid to be worn 49 C.F.R. § 391.41
Violate 10-hour rule, 15-hour rule 49 C.F.R. § 395.3
Violate 60/70-hour rule 49 C.F.R. § 395.3
Logbook violation (general) 49 C.F.R. § 395.8
No logbook 49 C.F.R. § 395.8
Logbook not current 49 C.F.R. § 395.8
Fail to retain previous 7 days on logbook 49 C.F.R. § 395.8
(c) Equipment Violations
Equipment-inspection/use 49 C.F.R. § 392.7
Emergency equipment-inspection/use 49 C.F.R. § 392.8
Safe loading (secured) 49 C.F.R. § 392.9
Brakes-inoperative or missing 49 C.F.R. § 393.40-§ 393.52
Fuel tank securement 49 C.F.R. § 393.65
Fuel leak/cap 49 C.F.R. § 393.67
Coupling/towing devices 49 C.F.R. § 393.70; § 393.71
Tire exceeds weight limit 49 C.F.R. § 393.75
Bus violations 49 C.F.R. § 393.89-§ 393.92
Front end structure 49 C.F.R. § 393.106
Frame-cracked, loose, sagging, broken 49 C.F.R. § 393.201
Cab/body components-defective 49 C.F.R. § 393.203
Wheels/rims defective 49 C.F.R. § 393.205
Suspension-defective 49 C.F.R. § 393.207
Steering system-defective 49 C.F.R. § 393.209
Vehicle maintenance (general) 49 C.F.R. § 396.3
No driver vehicle inspection report 49 C.F.R. § 396.11
No periodic inspection 49 C.F.R. § 396.17-§ 396.25
(d) Hazardous Materials; Driving and Parking
Fail to attend Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 material 49 C.F.R. § 397.5
Fail to attend other hazardous materials class 49 C.F.R. § 397.5
Improper parking Division 1.1, 1.2, or 1.3 material 49 C.F.R. § 397.7; § 397.11
Improper parking other hazardous materials 49 C.F.R. § 397.7; § 397.11
Fail to have route plan 49 C.F.R. § 397.67
Smoking violations 49 C.F.R. § 397.13
Instructions and document violations 49 C.F.R. § 397.191997, c. 283.
49 CFR §391.15 is the primary federal regulation dealing with driver disqualifications. It states as follows:
(click link to ensure latest version)
"(a) General. A driver who is disqualified shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle. A motor carrier shall not require or permit a driver who is disqualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle.
(c) Disqualification for criminal and other offenses--
(1) General rule. A driver who is convicted of (or forfeits bond or collateral upon a charge of) a disqualifying offense specified in paragraph (c)(2) of this section is disqualified for the period of time specified in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, if--
(d) Disqualification for violation of out-of-service orders--
(1) General rule. A driver who is convicted of violating an out-of-service order is disqualified for the period of time specified in paragraph (d)(2) of this section.
(2) Duration of disqualification for violation of out-of-service orders--(i) First violation. A driver is disqualified for not less than 90 days nor more than one year if the driver is convicted of a first violation of an out-of-service order.
(e) Disqualification for violation of prohibition of texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle--
(2) Duration. Disqualification for violation of prohibition of texting while driving a commercial motor vehicle--
(f) Disqualification for violation of a restriction on using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle--
(2) Duration. Disqualification for violation of a restriction on using a hand-held mobile telephone while driving a commercial motor vehicle--
(ii) Third or subsequent violation. A driver is disqualified for 120 days if the driver is convicted of three or more violations of §392.82(a) of this chapter in separate incidents committed during any 3-year period."