The Florida Senate

322.53  License required; exemptions.--

(1)  Except as provided in subsection (2), every person who drives a commercial motor vehicle in this state is required to possess a valid commercial driver's license issued in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

(2)  The following persons are exempt from the requirement to obtain a commercial driver's license:

(a)  Drivers of authorized emergency vehicles.

(b)  Military personnel driving military vehicles.

(c)  Farmers transporting farm supplies or farm machinery within 150 miles of their farm, or transporting agricultural products to or from the first place of storage or processing or directly to or from market, within 150 miles of their farm.

(d)  Drivers of recreational vehicles, as defined in s. 320.01.

(e)  Drivers who operate straight trucks, as defined in s. 316.003, that are exclusively transporting their own tangible personal property which is not for sale.

(f)  An employee of a publicly owned transit system who is limited to moving vehicles for maintenance or parking purposes exclusively within the restricted-access confines of a transit system's property.

(3)  Notwithstanding subsection (2), all drivers of for-hire commercial motor vehicles are required to possess a valid commercial driver's license issued in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

(4)  A resident who is exempt from obtaining a commercial driver's license pursuant to paragraph (2)(a) or paragraph (2)(c) and who drives a commercial motor vehicle must obtain a Class D driver's license endorsed to authorize the operation of the particular type of vehicle for which his or her exemption is granted.

(5)  A resident who is exempt from obtaining a commercial driver's license pursuant to paragraph (2)(b), paragraph (2)(d), paragraph (2)(e), or paragraph (2)(f) may drive a commercial motor vehicle pursuant to the exemption granted in paragraph (2)(b), paragraph (2)(d), paragraph (2)(e), or paragraph (2)(f) if he or she possesses a valid Class D or Class E driver's license or a military license.

(6)  The department shall adopt rules and enter into necessary agreements with other jurisdictions to provide for the operation of commercial vehicles by nonresidents pursuant to the exemption granted in subsection (2).

History.--s. 4, ch. 89-282; s. 23, ch. 94-237; s. 86, ch. 94-306; s. 942, ch. 95-148; s. 27, ch. 96-413; s. 11, ch. 97-280; s. 35, ch. 97-300.