Changing Motor Carrier Safety and Credentialing Violations to Civil Penalties

Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers are often cited for tax, credentialing, and permitting violations even though they are generally the responsibility of the motor carrier. If convicted, drivers may have misdemeanor violations added to their criminal record. This dynamic creates confusion among CMV drivers and potentially results in hardship. It also makes it difficult to adjudicate violations fairly. A potential solution lies in reclassifying these violations as civil penalties. Before this could be done, however, the Kentucky Transportatin Cabinet (KYTC) needs to understand how other states approach the adjudication of CMV violations, determine the fiscal implications of fines and court fees, and a develop a proposed policy or legislative framework for enacting changes.

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $145,000.00
• Contract Numbers:

  KYSPR 27-709

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Kentucky Transportation Cabinet

  200 Mero Street
  Frankfort, KY  United States  40622
• Performing Organizations:

  University of Kentucky, Lexington

  Kentucky Transportation Center College of Engineering, 176 Raymond Building
  Lexington, KY  United States  40506-0281
• Principal Investigators:

  Walton, Jennifer

  Martin, Andrew

  Koo, Jeeyen

• Start Date: 20260701
• Expected Completion Date: 20280630
• Actual Completion Date: 0

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commercial drivers; Highway user taxation; Motor carriers; Penalties; Permits
• Geographic Terms: Kentucky
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Law; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 02000588
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: University of Kentucky, Lexington
• Contract Numbers: KYSPR 27-709
• Files: RIP, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Aug 26 2026 5:04PM