(625 ILCS 5/6-520) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 6-520)

Sec. 6-520. CDL disqualification or out-of-service order; hearing.

(a) A disqualification of commercial driving privileges by the Secretary of State, pursuant to this UCDLA, shall not become effective until the person is notified in writing, by the Secretary, of the impending disqualification and advised that a CDL hearing may be requested of the Secretary if the stop or arrest occurred in a commercial motor vehicle.

(b) Upon receipt of: the notice of a CDL disqualification not based upon a conviction; an out-of-service order; or notification that a CDL disqualification is forthcoming, the person may make a written petition in a form, approved by the Secretary of State, for a CDL hearing with the Secretary if the stop or arrest occurred in a commercial motor vehicle. Such petition must state the grounds upon which the person seeks to have the CDL disqualification rescinded or the out-of-service order removed from the person's driving record. Within 10 days after the receipt of such petition, it shall be reviewed by the Director of the Department of Administrative Hearings, Office of the Secretary of State, or by an appointed designee. If it is determined that the petition on its face does not state grounds upon which the relief may be based, the petition for a CDL hearing shall be denied and the disqualification shall become effective as if no petition had been filed and the out-of-service order shall be sustained. If such petition is so denied, the person may submit another petition.

(c) The scope of a CDL hearing, for any disqualification imposed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of Section 6-514, resulting from the operation of a commercial motor vehicle, shall be limited to the following issues:

1. Whether the person was operating a commercial motor vehicle;

2. Whether, after making the initial stop, the police officer had probable cause to issue a Sworn Report;

3. Whether the person was verbally warned of the ensuing consequences prior to submitting to any type of chemical test or tests to determine such person's blood concentration of alcohol, other drug, or both;

4. Whether the person did refuse to submit to or failed to complete the chemical testing or did submit to such test or tests and such test or tests disclosed an alcohol concentration of at least 0.04 or any amount of a drug, substance, or compound resulting from the unlawful use or consumption of cannabis listed in the Cannabis Control Act or a controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or methamphetamine as listed in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act in the person's system;

5. Whether the person was warned that if the test or tests disclosed an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more or any amount of a drug, substance, or compound resulting from the unlawful use or consumption of cannabis listed in the Cannabis Control Act or a controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or methamphetamine as listed in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, such results could be admissible in a subsequent prosecution under Section 11-501 of this Code or similar provision of local ordinances; and

6. Whether such results could not be used to impose any driver's license sanctions pursuant to Section 11-501.1.

Upon the conclusion of the above CDL hearing, the CDL disqualification imposed shall either be sustained or rescinded.

(d) The scope of a CDL hearing for any out-of-service sanction, imposed pursuant to Section 6-515, shall be limited to the following issues:

1. Whether the person was driving a commercial motor vehicle;

2. Whether, while driving such commercial motor vehicle, the person had alcohol or any amount of a drug, substance, or compound resulting from the unlawful use or consumption of cannabis listed in the Cannabis Control Act or a controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or methamphetamine as listed in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act in such person's system;

3. Whether the person was verbally warned of the ensuing consequences prior to being asked to submit to any type of chemical test or tests to determine such person's alcohol, other drug, or both, concentration; and

4. Whether, after being so warned, the person did refuse to submit to or failed to complete such chemical test or tests or did submit to such test or tests and such test or tests disclosed an alcohol concentration greater than 0.00 or any amount of a drug, substance, or compound resulting from the unlawful use or consumption of cannabis listed in the Cannabis Control Act or a controlled substance listed in the Illinois Controlled Substances Act or methamphetamine as listed in the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act.

Upon the conclusion of the above CDL hearing, the out-of-service sanction shall either be sustained or removed from the person's driving record.

(e) If any person petitions for a hearing relating to any CDL disqualification based upon a conviction, as defined in this UCDLA, said hearing shall not be conducted as a CDL hearing, but shall be conducted as any other driver's license hearing, whether formal or informal, as promulgated in the rules and regulations of the Secretary.

(f) Any evidence of alcohol or other drug consumption, for the purposes of this UCDLA, shall be sufficient probable cause for requesting the driver to submit to a chemical test or tests to determine the presence of alcohol, other drug, or both in the person's system and the subsequent issuance of an out-of-service order or a Sworn Report by a police officer.

(g) For the purposes of this UCDLA, a CDL "hearing" shall mean a hearing before the Office of the Secretary of State in accordance with Section 2-118 of this Code, for the purpose of resolving differences or disputes specifically related to the scope of the issues identified in this Section relating to the operation of a commercial motor vehicle. These proceedings will be a matter of record and a final appealable order issued. The petition for a CDL hearing shall not stay or delay the effective date of the impending disqualification.

(h) The CDL hearing may be conducted upon a review of the police officer's own official reports; provided however, that the petitioner may subpoena the officer. Failure of the officer to answer the subpoena shall be grounds for a continuance.

(i) Any CDL disqualification based upon a statutory summary suspension or revocation resulting from an arrest of a CDL holder while operating a non-commercial motor vehicle, may only be contested by filing a petition to contest the statutory summary suspension or revocation in the appropriate circuit court as provided for in Section 2-118.1 of this Code.

(Source: P.A. 95-382, eff. 8-23-07; 96-1344, eff. 7-1-11.)