Protest a Commercial Vehicle Citation

If you received a Commercial Motor Vehicle Citation / Permit issued by an officer with the Florida Highway Patrol or another local law enforcement officer, then contact an experienced traffic ticket attorney in Tampa, FL, to discuss the case.

Instead of merely paying the citation, you have the option of protesting the penalty at a hearing before Florida’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board. You also have the right to file a “notice of appeal” from any final decision made by the review board if they make a mistake or violate your rights to due process.

Under Section 316.3025(8), if you were issued the CMV citation and assessed a civil penalty then you can hire an attorney to apply to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board for a modification, cancellation, or revocation of the penalty (sometimes called a “letter or protest” or “appeal”).

During the protest or appeal process, the Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board may modify, cancel, revoke, or sustain such penalty. Many of these CMV citations are issued during a traffic stop conducted pursuant to Florida Statute Section 20.24 and Section 316.640 for a variety of offenses such as failing to stop at a railroad crossing when required by 392.10.

In Fiscal Year 2013/2014, the Review Board heard 1,172 cases that represented a total of $1,373,088.45 in fines. Out of these 1,172 cases, relief was granted on 454 of the cases, or 38.74% of the cases, for a total refunded amount of $552,332.94, or 40.23%.

Attorneys to Protest a Commercial Vehicle Citation in Florida

The attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm can help you protest, contest, or appeal a Commercial Vehicle Citation to the Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board (hereinafter CMV Review Board).

The CMV Review Board can review any penalty imposed upon any vehicle or person relating to weights imposed on the highways by the axles and wheels of motor vehicles, special fuel, and motor fuel tax compliance, commercial motor vehicle registration, or violation of safety regulations.

Call the traffic ticket attorneys at the Sammis Law Firm for commercial vehicle drivers or CDL holders in Tampa, FL. Our offices are located in downtown Tampa, Hillsborough County.

We represent CDL holders on commercial motor vehicle enforcement actions, permits, and citations in the greater Tampa Bay area. We can help you appeal any final action of the CMV Review Board or petition for rehearing, reconsideration, or to vacate its order.

Let us put our experience to work for you.

Call (813) 250-0500 today.

Civil Penalties for a Commercial Motor Vehicle Citation

Florida Statute 316.3025(3) explains the civil penalties for violations, including:

(a) A civil penalty of $50 may be assessed for a violation of the identification requirements of 49 C.F.R. s. 390.21 or s. 316.302(2)(e).

(b) A civil penalty of $100 may be assessed for:

1. Each violation of the North American Uniform Driver Out-of-Service Criteria;
2. A violation of s. 316.302(2)(b) or (c);
3. A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 392.60;
4. A violation of the North American Standard Vehicle Out-of-Service Criteria resulting from an inspection of a commercial motor vehicle involved in a crash; or
5. A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 391.41.

(c) A civil penalty of $250 may be assessed for:

1. A violation of the placarding requirements of 49 C.F.R. parts 171-179;
2. A violation of the shipping paper requirements of 49 C.F.R. parts 171-179;
3. A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 392.10;
4. A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 397.5;
5. A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 397.7;
6. A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 397.13; or
7. A violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 397.15.

(d) A civil penalty of $500 may be assessed for:

1. Each violation of the North American Standard Hazardous Materials Out-of-Service Criteria;
2. Each violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 390.19, for the failure of an interstate or intrastate motor carrier to register;
3. Each violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 392.9a, for the failure of an interstate motor carrier to obtain operating authority; or
4. Each violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 392.9a, for operating beyond the scope of an interstate motor carrier’s operating authority.

(e) A civil penalty not to exceed:

• • $5,000 in the aggregate may be assessed for violations found in the conduct of compliance reviews pursuant to s. 316.302(6).
  • $25,000 in the aggregate may be assessed for violations found in a follow-up compliance review conducted within a 24-month period.
  • $25,000 in the aggregate may be assessed and the motor carrier may be enjoined pursuant to s. 316.3026 if violations are found after a second follow-up compliance review within 12 months after the first follow-up compliance review. Motor carriers found to be operating without insurance required by s. 627.7415 may be enjoined as provided in s. 316.3026.

Under 316.3025(4), a vehicle operated by an interstate motor carrier found to be in violation of 49 C.F.R. s. 392.9a may be placed out of service for the carrier’s failure to obtain operating authority or operating beyond the scope of its operating authority.

Under 316.3025(5), whenever any person or motor carrier, as defined in chapter 320, violates the provisions of this section and becomes indebted to the state because of such violation and refuses to pay the appropriate penalty, in addition to the provisions of s. 316.3026, such penalty becomes a lien upon the property, including the motor vehicles of such person or motor carrier, and such property may be seized and foreclosed by the state in a civil action in any court of this state.

It shall be presumed that the motor vehicle’s owner is liable for the sum, and the vehicle may be detained or impounded until the penalty is paid.

Disqualifications from Operating a Commercial Motor Vehicle under Section 322.61

Florida Statute Section 322.61(9) provides that a driver who is convicted of or otherwise found to have committed an offense of operating a commercial motor vehicle in violation of federal, state, or local law or regulation about one of the following six offenses at a railroad-highway grade crossing must be disqualified for the time specified in subsection (10), which is at least a 60 day disqualification period:

(a) For drivers who are not always required to stop, failing to slow down and check that the tracks are clear of approaching trains.

(b) For drivers who are not always required to stop, failing to stop before reaching the crossing if the tracks are not clear.

(c) For drivers who are always required to stop, failing to stop before driving onto the crossing.

(d) For all drivers, failing to have sufficient space to drive completely through the crossing without stopping.

(e) For all drivers, failing to obey a traffic control device or all directions of an enforcement official at the crossing.

(f) For all drivers, failing to negotiate a crossing because of insufficient undercarriage clearance.

Under Florida Statute Section 322.61(9(10), a driver must be disqualified for:

• at least 60 days if the driver is convicted of or otherwise found to have committed a first violation of a railroad-highway grade crossing violation;
• at least 120 days if, for offenses occurring during any 3-year period, the driver is convicted of or otherwise found to have committed a second railroad-highway grade crossing violation in separate incidents
• at least 1 year if, for offenses occurring during any 3-year period, the driver is convicted of or otherwise found to have committed a third or subsequent railroad-highway grade crossing violation in separate incidents.

Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board

Pursuant to Florida Statute 316.545(7), the Review Board is composed of the following member:

• three (3) permanent members who are the Secretary of Transportation;
• the Executive Director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles: and
• the Commissioner of Agriculture or their representatives; and
• four (4) additional members.

The Governor for the State of Florida appoints one member from the road construction industry, one member from the trucking industry, and one member with a general business or legal background. The Commissioner of Agriculture shall appoint one member from the agriculture industry. The Chairman of the Board is the Secretary of Transportation or his designee.

Florida’s Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board (CMVRB) was created by Florida’s Department of Transportation (DOT). Under Section 316.545(7), Fla. Stat., the CMVRB has the authority to review:

• any penalty imposed upon any vehicle or person under the provisions of [chapter 316] relating to:
  • weights imposed on the highways by the axles and wheels of motor vehicles;
  • to special fuel and motor fuel tax compliance; or
  • to violations of safety regulations.

How to Protest a Citation for a CMV Violation

To protect a citation you must pay the total amount of the citation. You or your attorney must then provide a written explanation of the grounds for your protest within sixty (60) days of the receipt of the citation (often called the “letter of protest”).

The letter of protest must contain sufficient information to enable the CMVRB to give adequate consideration to your case. In addition to a letter of protest, you must provide a copy of the citation being protested, as well as any additional pertinent documentation/evidence that will help prove your case. After the letter of protest is received by the CMVBR, the protest will be placed on the agenda of the CMVRB.

You must pay the citation fine or civil penalty as required by the citation.

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
Penalty Collection Unit
2900 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0500
1-800-688-5479
850-617-3206
www.fhpcvepayments.com

When you visit the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicle’s Online Citation Payment Center you must enter the USDOT number or citation number to begin the online payment process. You can pay with a major credit card or the bank routing number of your checking or savings account.

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board will not hear a protest unless the penalty is timely paid or a good and sufficient bond is posted. To be considered timely, a citation must be paid and a request for hearing must be filed within sixty (60) days of receipt of the penalty.

Surety bond Instructions – 1994-09-01 (pdf file size 21KB)
Surety bond form – 1994-09-01 (pdf file size 9KB)

You or your attorney must file the letter of protest with the:

Florida Department of Transportation
Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board
605 Suwannee Street, MS 90
Tallahassee, FL 32399
850-410-5619
Fax: 850-412-8029
Email: CMVRB@dot.state.fl.us

The failure to remit payment by the duty date may result in the carrier vehicle being impounded, the carrier and all trucks being prohibited from operating in Florida, vehicle registrations and IRP / Fuel Tax credentials being revoked or suspended, oversized/overweight permits being canceled, credit bureau/collection complaints being filed and other civil remedies under federal law and the laws of the State of Florida.

Attending the Protest Hearing with the CMVRB

Although it is not necessary for you or your attorney to be present at the CMVRB hearing, you have the right to attend and provide testimony that supplements your written explanation provided within the letter of protest and additional documentation. The CMVRB meetings are held once a month at a location determined by the Board. The Review Board will physically meet at the Florida Department of Transportation, 605 Suwanee Street, Burns Building Auditorium, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.

If you or your attorney attend, you will be provided the opportunity to respond to Review Board inquiries. You can appear via video conference from any of the seven (7) Florida Department of Transportation District offices which are located in Tampa, Bartow, Lake City, Chipley, Ft. Lauderdale, DeLand, and Miami). If you wish to appear via video conference, you must notify the Review Board no later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the hearing date.

After you or your attorney files the letter of protest the Review Board will provide notice of the hearing date and location approximately one (1) month prior to the hearing date in a letter sent via U.S. Mail. All requests for a protest withdrawal, continuance or additional supporting documents must be mailed to the protest address (see above), faxed to 850-412-8029 or emailed to CMVRB@dot.state.fl.us no later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the hearing date.

The Review Board renders its decision within 30 days after the meeting at which the protest was heard and notifies the person of its decision in writing via a disposition letter. The disposition letter is delivered by U.S. Mail. Pursuant to Rule 14A-1.004(7), Florida Administrative Code, the Review Board’s decision is final (although it can be appealled to the district court of appeals).

A rehearing may be requested only if additional evidence is presented. You may request a rehearing by filing such a request within fourteen (14) days of the date of the disposition letter. If the Review Board votes to give a partial or full refund of your citation fine, a refund will be issued by check in a timely manner. Checks are issued by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). For any questions regarding a refund, please contact DHSMV- Penalty Collections Unit at 850-617-3206.

2020 Schedule of CMVRB Protest Hearings

If properly requested, the petitioner has an opportunity to appear via video conference from any of the seven (7) Florida Department of Transportation District offices (located in Bartow, Lake City, Chipley, Ft. Lauderdale, DeLand, Miami, and Tampa).  To appear via video conference, you must notify the Review Board no later than fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the hearing date.

Appealing a Final Action of the CMV Review Board

Did you know that you can seek a review of a letter issued by the Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board or any decision of the board to reject the challenge of a citation received while operating a commercial motor vehicle? The appeal begins by filing a notice of appeal within 30 days of the final action.

Under Section 316.545(8), Fla. Stat., “the review board is authorized to modify, cancel, revoke, or sustain such penalty.” If the board fails to take the appropriate action, any final agency action under Fla. Admin. Code R. 14A-1.004(7) can be appealed.

If you receive notice of a final action of the Review Board, it might be accompanied by a “Notice of Right to Appeal” stating that the letter may be appealed to a district court of appeal “within thirty (30) days of rendition of this order.” The letter might also include an electronic file stamp showing that it was filed with the clerk of the Department of Transportation on a particular date and time.

Keep in mind that the 30-day period for filing the notice of appeal does not commence on the date of the letter. Instead, the 30-day period for filing the appeal commences when the letter is “rendered” by filing with the clerk of the Department.

In fact, Section 120.68(2)(a), Fla. Stat., provides that “all proceedings [for judicial review] shall be instituted by filing a notice of appeal or petition for review in accordance with the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure within 30 days after the rendition of the order being appealed.”) (emphasis added).

Under Fla. R. App. P. 9.020(i), an “order is rendered when a signed, written order is filed with the clerk of the lower tribunal.”

Additional Resources

Protesting a Commercial Vehicle Citation – Visit the website of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to learn more about how to protest, contest, or appeal a commercial motor vehicle citation. The Commercial Motor Vehicle Review Board can review any penalty imposed upon any vehicle or person relating to weights imposed on the highways by the axles and wheels of motor vehicles, special fuel and motor fuel tax compliance, commercial motor vehicle registration, or violation of safety regulations.

Texting while Driving a CMV – Learn more about CMV citations for texting under Section 316.3025(6)(a) when a driver violates 49 C.F.R. s. 392.80, by texting while operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), or 49 C.F.R. s. 392.82, which prohibits using a handheld mobile telephone while operating a CMV. Penalties include a civil penalty or commercial driver’s license disqualification.

This article was last updated on Friday, July 29, 2022.