9/28/05-A new law in Oregon brings stiffer penalties on commercial drivers for moving violations – even in their personal vehicles.
The new rules, which take effect Sept. 30, were a requirement by the federal government in the Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act.
Congress passed the requirement in 1999, intended to reduce the number and severity of crashes involving large trucks and buses.
Under the Oregon law, previously HB2107, the state Department of Transportation must comply with the following:

• Obtain out-of-state driving records for the past 10 years for CDL applicants and reflecting their driving histories electronically;
• Count traffic violations committed in personal vehicles the same as if the violation had occurred in a commercial vehicle. These violations include improper passing, reckless driving and traveling more than 15 mph over the speed limit; and
• Keep convictions for any violation (except parking tickets) of state and local traffic laws in the state on permanent record for CDLs. For example, a record of entering an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for drunk driving would not be removed from a driver’s record.

Violations will count against an individual’s commercial driver’s license, even if the individual is driving his or her personal vehicle.
Violations incurred in personal vehicles prior to Sept. 30 will not count against drivers.