61-8-805. Suspension for operating commercial vehicle with alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more — hearing. (1) A person whose alcohol concentration is 0.04 or more while the person drives or is in actual physical control of a commercial motor vehicle is subject to the suspension of the person’s commercial driver‘s license. The peace officer who determines that the person is operating a commercial motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more shall immediately seize the person’s commercial driver’s license and, on behalf of the department, give the person written notice of the license suspension and the right to a hearing under 61-8-808. Upon receipt of a report certified under penalty of law from the peace officer that the person was operating a commercial motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more, the department shall suspend the license, with no provision for a restricted probationary commercial license, for:

Terms Used In Montana Code 61-8-805

  • Commercial motor vehicle: means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the vehicle:

    (i)has a gross combination weight rating or a gross combination weight of 26,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater, inclusive of a towed unit with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds;

    (ii)has a gross vehicle weight rating or a gross vehicle weight of 26,001 pounds or more, whichever is greater;

    (iii)is designed to transport at least 16 passengers, including the driver;

    (iv)is a school bus; or

    (v)is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials. See Montana Code 61-1-101

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Department: means the department of justice acting directly or through its duly authorized officers or agents. See Montana Code 61-1-101
  • Driver: means a person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle. See Montana Code 61-1-101
  • Motor vehicle: means :

    (i)a vehicle propelled by its own power and designed or used to transport persons or property on the highways of the state;

    (ii)a quadricycle if it is equipped for use on the highways as prescribed in chapter 9; or

    (iii)a golf cart only if it is equipped for use on the highways as prescribed in chapter 9 and is operated pursuant to 61-8-391 or by a person with a low-speed restricted driver's license. See Montana Code 61-1-101

  • Operator: means a person who is in actual physical control of a motor vehicle. See Montana Code 61-1-101
  • Peace officer: has the meaning as defined in 46-1-202. See Montana Code 1-1-207
  • person: means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture, state agency, local government unit, another state government, the United States, a political subdivision of this or another state, or any other legal or commercial entity. See Montana Code 61-1-101
  • Suspension: means the temporary withdrawal by action of the department of a person's driver's license, privilege to drive a motor vehicle on the public highways, and privilege to apply for or be issued a driver's license for a period of time designated by law. See Montana Code 61-1-101
  • Vehicle: means a device in, on, or by which any person or property may be transported or drawn on a public highway, except devices moved by animal power or used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks. See Montana Code 61-1-101

(a)1 year, upon receipt of the first report of a 0.04 or more alcohol concentration violation, except that if the violation occurred in a commercial motor vehicle transporting placardable hazardous materials, the suspension must be for 3 years; and

(b)life, upon receipt of a second or subsequent 0.04 or more alcohol concentration violation report at any time as determined from the records of the department, subject to federal rules allowing for driver rehabilitation and license reinstatement, if otherwise eligible, upon service of a minimum period of 10 years’ suspension.

(2)A peace officer who determines that a commercial motor vehicle operator has a measured amount or detected presence of alcohol in the operator’s body while operating a commercial motor vehicle shall place the commercial motor vehicle operator out of service as mandated by federal regulations for 24 hours.

(3)The fact that a person charged with a violation of the provisions of subsection (1) is entitled to use alcohol under the laws of Montana is not a defense against a charge of violating the provisions of subsection (1).

(4)For purposes of this section, a conviction for violation of 61-8-1002(1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(c), (1)(d), or (1)(e) while operating a commercial motor vehicle or a prior refusal to be tested under an implied consent law must be treated as a prior report of a 0.04 or more alcohol concentration violation and must be used in determining the length of the license suspension under subsection (1).

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