Definitions [For application of this section, see 85 Del. Laws, c. 253, § 23].
Del. Code tit. 21, § 2603
in effectNotwithstanding any other provision of this title, the following definitions apply to this chapter:
(1) “Alcohol” means any substance containing any form of alcohol, including, but not limited to, ethanol, methanol, propanol and isopropanol.
(2) “Alcohol concentration” means:
a. The number of grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; or
b. The number of grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath.
(3) “Alien” means any person not a citizen or national of the United States.
(4) “CDL downgrade” means either:
a. Except where otherwise provided in this title, the Division allows the driver to change the driver’s self-certification to interstate but operating exclusively in transportation or operation excepted from 49 C.F.R. Part 391, as provided in § 390.3(f), § 391.2, § 391.68, or § 398.3;
b. The Division allows the driver to change the driver’s self-certification to intrastate only if the driver is physically qualified for intrastate-only driving under § 4704(b) of this title;
c. The Division allows the driver to change the driver’s certification to intrastate but operating exclusively in transportation or operations excepted under § 4704(c)(1)or (2) of this title driver physical qualification requirements; or
d. The Division removes the CDL privilege from the driver license.
(5) “CDLIS driver record” means the electronic record of the individual CDL driver’s status and history stored by the state of record as part of the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS) established under 49 U.S.C. § 31309.
(6) “CDLIS motor vehicle record” means a report generated from the CDLIS driver record meeting the requirements for access to CDLIS information and provided by states to users authorized in 49 C.F.R. § 384.225(e)(3) and (4), subject to the provisions of the Driver Privacy Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2721-2725, and § 305 of this title.
(7) “Commercial learner permit” (CLP) means a permit issued pursuant to § 2608(d) of this title.
(8) “Commercial driver license” (CDL) means a license issued in accordance with the requirements of this chapter to an individual which authorizes the individual to drive a certain class of commercial motor vehicle.
(9) “Commercial driver license information system” (CDLIS) means the information system established pursuant to the CMVSA to serve as a clearinghouse for locating information related to the licensing and identification of commercial motor vehicle drivers.
(10) “Commercial motor vehicle (CMV)” means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles used in commerce to transport passengers or property if the motor vehicle
a. Has a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 pounds or more inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of more than 10,000 pounds; or
b. Has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,001 pounds or more; or
c. Is designed to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver; or
d. Is of any size and is used in the transportation of hazardous materials.
(11) “Controlled substance” means any substance so classified under § 102(6) of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 802(6)), and includes all substances listed on Schedules I through V, of 21 C.F.R. part 1308, as they may be revised from time to time.
(12) “Conviction” means an unvacated adjudication of guilt, or a determination that a person has violated or failed to comply with the law in a court of original jurisdiction or by an authorized administrative tribunal, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure the person’s appearance in court, a plea of guilty or nolo contendere accepted by the court, the payment of a fine or court cost, or violation of a condition of release without bail, regardless of whether or not the penalty is rebated, suspended, or probated.
(13) “Disqualification” means any of the following actions:
a. The suspension, revocation, or cancellation of a CDL or CLP by the state or jurisdiction of issuance.
b. Any withdrawal of a person’s privileges to drive a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) by a state or other jurisdiction as the result of a violation of state or local law relating to motor vehicle traffic control (other than parking, vehicle weight or vehicle defect violations).
c. A determination by the FMCSA that a person is not qualified to operate a commercial motor vehicle under Part 391 of 49 C.F.R.
(14) “Drive” means to drive, operate or be in physical control of a motor vehicle.
(15) “Driver” means any person who drives, operates, or is in physical control of a commercial motor vehicle, or who is required to hold a commercial driver license.
(16) “Driver license” means a license issued by a state to an individual which authorizes the individual to drive a motor vehicle.
(17) “Driving a commercial motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol” means committing any one or more of the following acts in a CMV:
a. Driving a CMV while the person’s alcohol concentration is 0.04 or more;
b. Driving under the influence of alcohol as prescribed by state law; or
c. Refusal to undergo such testing as is required by any State or jurisdiction in the enforcement of § 383.51(b) or § 392.5(a)(2) of 49 C.F.R.
(18) “Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse” (the “Clearinghouse”) means the secure online database that gives employers, FMCSA, Delaware state driver-licensing agencies, and Delaware state law-enforcement personnel real-time information about CDL holder’s drug and alcohol program violations.
(19) “Employer” means any person, including the United States, a state, or a political subdivision of a state, who owns or leases a commercial motor vehicle, or assigns a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle.
(20) “Excepted interstate commerce” means a CDL/CLP applicant must certify that the applicant operates or expects to operate in interstate commerce but engages exclusively in transportation or operations excepted under 49 C.F.R. § 390.3(f), § 391.2, § 391.68, or § 398.3 from all or parts of the qualification requirements of 49 C.F.R. Part 391 and is, therefore, not required to obtain a federal medical examiner’s certification by 49 C.F.R. § 391.45.
(21) “Excepted intrastate commerce” means a CDL/CLP applicant must certify that the applicant operates in intrastate commerce but engages exclusively in transportation or operations excepted from all or parts of the Delaware’s driver medical qualification requirements in §§ 2621 and 4704(c)(2) of this title.
(22) “Fatality” means the death of a person as a result of a motor vehicle accident.
(23) “Felony” means any offense under state or federal law that is punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year.
(24) “FMCSA” means Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
(25) “Foreign jurisdiction” means any jurisdiction other than a state of the United States or District of Columbia.
(26) “Gross vehicle weight rating” (GVWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer or manufacturers as the maximum loaded weight of a single vehicle. The GVWR of a combination (articulated) vehicle (commonly referred to as the “Gross Combination Weight Rating” or “GCWR”) is the GVWR of the power unit plus the GVWR of the towed unit or units.
(27) “Hazardous material” means any material that has been designated as hazardous under 49 U.S.C. § 5103 and is required to be placarded under subpart F of 49 C.F.R. part 172 or any quantity of a material listed as a select agent or toxin in 42 C.F.R. part 73.
(28) “Human trafficking” means as “human trafficking” is defined in § 787 of Title 11.
(29) “Imminent hazard” means the existence of a condition relating to hazardous material that presents a substantial likelihood that death, serious illness, severe personal injury, or a substantial endangerment to health, property, or the environment may occur before the reasonably foreseeable completion date of a formal proceeding begun to lessen the risk of that death, illness, injury or endangerment.
(30) “Issue and issuance” means initial licensure, license transfers, license renewals, license upgrades, and nonresident commercial driver’s licenses.
(31) “Major traffic violation” means any conviction defined as “major” as specified by 49 C.F.R. § 383.51(b) Table 1.
(32) “Manual transmission” means a transmission utilizing a driver-operated clutch that is activated by a pedal or lever and a gearshift mechanism either operated by hand or foot.
(33) “Measurable amount of alcohol” means the alcohol concentration of the person’s blood or breath is equal to or greater than 0.02 but less than 0.04.
(34) “Medical examiner” for purposes of conducting U.S. Department of Transportation physical examination for CMV certification means a person who is licensed, certified, and/or registered, in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations, to perform physical examinations. The term includes but is not limited to, doctors of medicine, doctors of osteopathy, physician associates, advanced practice nurses, and doctors of chiropractic. For medical examinations conducted on and after May 21, 2014, a medical examiner must be certified by FMCSA and listed on the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners as defined in this section.
(35) “Medical variance” means a driver has received 1 of the following from FMCSA that allows the driver to be issued a medical certificate:
a. An exemption letter permitting operation of a commercial motor vehicle pursuant to 49 C.F.R. Part 381, Subpart C, or § 391.64;
b. A skill performance evaluation certificate permitting operation of a commercial motor vehicle pursuant to 49 C.F.R. § 391.49.
(36) “Motor vehicle” means every vehicle which is self-propelled, and every vehicle which is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires but not operated upon rails, except vehicles moved solely by human power, motorized wheel chairs, farm implements of husbandry, mopeds, tripeds and OHVs.
(37) “Motor vehicle record” means the report of the driving status and history of a driver generated from the driver record, provided to users, such as drivers or employers, and subject to the provisions of the Driver Privacy Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2721-2725 and § 305 of this title.
(38) “National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners” means a program administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) that establishes requirements for healthcare professionals who perform physical qualification examinations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. All healthcare professionals whose scope of practice authorizes them to perform physical examinations and who intend to perform physical examinations and issue medical certificates for CMV drivers to meet the requirements of § 391.41 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs) [49 C.F.R. § 391.41] must be certified and listed on FMCSA’s National Registry no later than May 21, 2014.
(39) “Non-CMV” means a motor vehicle or combination of motor vehicles not defined by the term “commercial motor vehicle (CMV)” in this section.
(40) “Non-domiciled CDL” means a CDL or CLP issued by a state under either of the following 2 conditions:
a. To an individual domiciled in a foreign country meeting the requirements of § 383.23(b)(1) of 49 C.F.R.
b. To an individual domiciled in another state meeting the requirements of § 383.23(b)(2) of 49 C.F.R.
(41) “Non-excepted interstate commerce” means a CDL/CLP applicant must certify that the applicant operates or expects to operate in interstate commerce, is both subject to and meets the qualification requirements under 49 C.F.R. Part 391, and is required to obtain a federal medical examiner’s certification by 49 C.F.R. § 391.45.
(42) “Non-excepted intrastate commerce” means a CDL/CLP applicant must certify that the applicant operates only in intrastate commerce and, therefore, is subject to the Delaware driver medical qualification requirements in § 4704(a), (b), and (c)(1) of this title.
(43) “Out-of-service order” means a declaration by the Federal Highway Administration or an authorized enforcement officer of a federal, state, local or governmental agency from Puerto Rico, Canada or Mexico that a driver or a commercial motor vehicle or motor carrier operation (as defined in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations [49 C.F.R. Part 390]) is out-of-service pursuant to § 386.72 (imminent hazard), § 392.5 (intoxicating beverage), § 395.13 (drivers declared out-of-service) or § 396.9 (inspection of motor vehicles in operation) of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations or comparable laws of any governmental agency referred to above or the North American Uniform Out-of-Service Criteria.
(44) “Railroad-highway grade crossing violation” means any conviction defined as “railroad-highway grade crossing” as specified by 49 C.F.R. 383.51(d) Table 3.
(45) “School bus” means a commercial motor vehicle used to transport preprimary, primary, or secondary school students from home to school, from school to home, or to and from school-sponsored events, or any vehicle which meets the regulatory requirements adopted by the Department of Education with the advice of the Division of Motor Vehicles as specified under § 2901 of Title 14. “School bus” does not include a bus used as a common carrier.
(46) “Serious traffic violation” means any conviction defined as “serious,” specified by 49 C.F.R. § 383.51(c) Table 2.
(47) “State” for the purpose of this chapter means a state, territory or possession of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Republic of Mexico, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and any province of the Dominion of Canada.
(48) “Tank vehicle” means any commercial motor vehicle that is designed to transport any liquid or gaseous materials within a tank or tanks, having an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more that is either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or chassis.
(49) “United States” means the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title21/c026/index.htmlFetched: 6/28/2026