Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 281A.210 (2026)

Operating commercial vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or

✓ current as of May 2026
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other controlled substance. (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a person shall not drive a commercial motor vehicle within this state while having any measurable or detectable amount of alcohol or other controlled substances in his system. (2) A person who drives a commercial motor vehicle within this state while having any detectable amount of alcohol or controlled substance in his system or who refuses to submit to the test required in KRS 281A.220, shall be placed out of service for twenty-four (24) hours. (3) A person who drives a commercial motor vehicle within this state with an alcohol concentration of four hundredths (0.04) or more shall be deemed to be operating a vehicle under the influence. (4) A person who drives a commercial motor vehicle within this state with an alcohol concentration of four hundredths (0.04) or more, or who refused to submit to the test required in KRS 281A.220, in addition to any other sanctions that may be imposed under this chapter shall be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle under KRS 281A.190. Effective: April 7, 1992 History: Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 274, sec. 7, effective April 7, 1992. -- Created 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 455, sec. 21, effective July 1, 1991.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1998–2023 · leading case: Smith v. Norton Hospitals, Inc., 488 S.W.3d 23 (Ky. Ct. App. 2016).
Smith v. Norton Hospitals, Inc., 488 S.W.3d 23 (Ky. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “010 or KRS 281A.210 need not be committed in his or her presence in order to make an arrest without a warrant if the officer has probable cause to believe that the person being arrested has violated KRS 189A.”
Beatus v. Commonwealth, 965 S.W.2d 167 (Ky. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 11× “This Court granted discretionary review of a McCracken Circuit Court order which affirmed the McCracken District Court conviction of Thomas Beatas (Beatas) for operating a commercial vehicle under the influence of alcohol (KRS 281A.210) and imposed penalties contained in KRS…”
Commonwealth v. Howard, 969 S.W.2d 700 (Ky. 1998). “KRS 281A.210(3). We must conclude that the statute in question clearly indicates through its title, preamble and subject matter that underage drinking and driving is one of serious concern.”
Leatherman v. Commonwealth, 357 S.W.3d 518 (Ky. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “010 or KRS 281A.210 need not be committed in his presence in order to make an arrest without a warrant if the officer has probable cause to believe that the person has violated KRS 189A.”
Eric Jenkins v. The Est. of Marie Garmon, by David Garmon (Ky. Ct. App. 2023). · cites it 3× “5 KRS 281A.210. -8- toxicology reports, Jenkins’s guilty plea, and expert testimony concerning the effect his drug usage may have had on the accident.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 281A.210(3) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Howard, 969 S.W.2d 700 (Ky. 1998). “KRS 281A.210(3). We must conclude that the statute in question clearly indicates through its title, preamble and subject matter that underage drinking and driving is one of serious concern.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 281A.210(4) — 1 case
Beatus v. Commonwealth, 965 S.W.2d 167 (Ky. Ct. App. 1998). “This Court granted discretionary review of a McCracken Circuit Court order which affirmed the McCracken District Court conviction of Thomas Beatas (Beatas) for operating a commercial vehicle under the influence of alcohol (KRS 281A.210) and imposed penalties contained in KRS…”
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