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Abstract

This report examines trends in how Kentucky District Courts have adjudicated charges related to commercial driver’s license (CDL) and commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Using court data, researchers evaluated historical patterns in charge filing volumes as well as conviction, dismissal, amendment, and diversion rates. Between 2002 and 2024, conviction rates declined and dismissals increased. Convictions peaked in the mid-70% range in the early 2000s, but fell to the mid-50% range by 2024. Speeding and other serious traffic violations — many of which are advanceable offenses — were dismissed or amended at rates that could have substantively affected the integrity of CDL holder driving records. Building on this evaluation, researchers completed an in-depth case study of the Hardin County District Court’s adjudication practices and surveyed local law enforcement agencies about inspection and citation practices, knowledge of state and federal regulations, and the availability and effectiveness of equipment and training. Based on the findings of these analyses, researchers propose several recommendations to strengthen the adjudication process. These include holding annual trainings for local law enforcement focused on state and federal requirements for CDL holders, development of guidance for judges and county attorneys that describes different types of CDL- and CMV-related violations and their impacts on safety, updating the state’s uniform citation form so it more clearly indicates whether an offender holds a CDL, and expanding representation on the state’s CDL Advisory Committee to include local law enforcement officers as well as judges and county attorneys from rural areas.

Report Date

2-2026

Report Number

KTC-26-22

Digital Object Identifier

https://doi.org/10.13023/ktc.rr.2026.22

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