US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

23 U.S.C. § 159

Revocation or suspension of drivers’ licenses of individuals convicted of drug offenses

(a)

Withholding of Apportionments for Noncompliance.—

(1)

Beginning in fiscal year 1996 .—

The Secretary shall withhold 10 percent of the amount required to be apportioned to any State under each of paragraphs (1), (3), and (5) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century) of section 104(b) on the first day of each fiscal year which begins after the fourth calendar year following the effective date of this section if the State does not meet the requirements of paragraph (3) on the first day of such fiscal year.
(2)

Fiscal year 2012 and thereafter .—

The Secretary shall withhold an amount equal to 8 percent of the amount required to be apportioned to any State under each of paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 104(b) on the first day of each fiscal year beginning after , if the State fails to meet the requirements of paragraph (3) on the first day of the fiscal year.
(3)

Requirements .—

A State meets the requirements of this paragraph if—
(A)
the State has enacted and is enforcing a law that requires in all circumstances, or requires in the absence of compelling circumstances warranting an exception—
(i)
the revocation, or suspension for at least 6 months, of the driver’s license of any individual who is convicted, after the enactment of such law, of—
(I)
any violation of the Controlled Substances Act, or
(II)
any drug offense; and
(ii)
a delay in the issuance or reinstatement of a driver’s license to such an individual for at least 6 months after the individual applies for the issuance or reinstatement of a driver’s license if the individual does not have a driver’s license, or the driver’s license of the individual is suspended, at the time the individual is so convicted; or
(B)
the Governor of the State—
(i)
submits to the Secretary no earlier than the adjournment sine die of the first regularly scheduled session of the State’s legislature which begins after the effective date of this section a written certification stating that the Governor is opposed to the enactment or enforcement in the State of a law described in subparagraph (A), relating to the revocation, suspension, issuance, or reinstatement of drivers’ licenses to convicted drug offenders; and
(ii)
submits to the Secretary a written certification that the legislature (including both Houses where applicable) has adopted a resolution expressing its opposition to a law described in clause (i).
(b)

Effect of Noncompliance .—

No funds withheld under this section from apportionments to any State shall be available for apportionment to that State.
(c)

Definitions .—

For purposes of this section—
(1)

Driver’s license .—

The term “driver’s license” means a license issued by a State to any individual that authorizes the individual to operate a motor vehicle on highways.
(2)

Drug offense .—

The term “drug offense” means any criminal offense which proscribes—
(A)
the possession, distribution, manufacture, cultivation, sale, transfer, or the attempt or conspiracy to possess, distribute, manufacture, cultivate, sell, or transfer any substance the possession of which is prohibited under the Controlled Substances Act; or
(B)
the operation of a motor vehicle under the influence of such a substance.
(3)

Convicted .—

The term “convicted” includes adjudicated under juvenile proceedings.

Pub. L. 102–143, title III, § 333(a)105 Stat. 944Pub. L. 102–388, title III, § 327(a)106 Stat. 1547Pub. L. 105–178, title I, § 1103l112 Stat. 126Pub. L. 112–141, div. A, title I, § 1404(g)126 Stat. 558(Added , , ; amended , , ; ()(3)(E), , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 105–178The date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), is the date of enactment of , which was approved .

section 333(e) of Pub. L. 102–143The effective date of this section, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), (3)(B)(i), is . See , set out as a note below.

Pub. L. 91–51384 Stat. 1242section 801 of Title 21The Controlled Substances Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(3)(A)(i)(I) and (c)(2)(A), is title II of , , , which is classified principally to subchapter I (§ 801 et seq.) of chapter 13 of Title 21, Food and Drugs. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

Amendments

Pub. L. 112–141, § 1404(g)(1)2012—Subsec. (a)(1), (2). , designated par. (2) as (1), struck out “(including any amounts withheld under paragraph (1))” after “10 percent”, added par. (2), and struck out former par. (1). Prior to amendment, text of par. (1) read as follows: “For each fiscal year the Secretary shall withhold 5 percent of the amount required to be apportioned to any State under each of paragraphs (1), (3), and (5) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century) of section 104(b) on the first day of each fiscal year which begins after the second calendar year following the effective date of this section if the State does not meet the requirements of paragraph (3) on such date.”

Pub. L. 112–141, § 1404(g)(2)Subsec. (b). , added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which related to period of availability of withheld funds and effects of compliance and noncompliance.

Pub. L. 105–178, § 1103l1998—Subsec. (a)(1), (2). ()(3)(E)(i), substituted “(5) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century) of” for “(5) of” before “section 104(b)”.

Pub. L. 105–178, § 1103lSubsec. (b)(1)(A)(i). ()(3)(E)(ii)(I), substituted “section 104(b)(5)(A) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century)” for “section 104(b)(5)(A)”.

Pub. L. 105–178, § 1103lSubsec. (b)(1)(A)(ii). ()(3)(E)(ii)(II), substituted “section 104(b)(5)(B) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century)” for “section 104(b)(5)(B)”.

Pub. L. 105–178, § 1103lSubsec. (b)(1)(A)(iii). ()(3)(E)(i), substituted “(5) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century) of” for “(5) of” before “section 104(b)”.

Pub. L. 105–178, § 1103lSubsec. (b)(3). ()(3)(E)(ii)(IV), substituted “section 104(b)(5) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century)” for “section 104(b)(5)” in concluding provisions.

Pub. L. 105–178, § 1103lSubsec. (b)(3)(A). ()(3)(E)(ii)(I), substituted “section 104(b)(5)(A) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century)” for “section 104(b)(5)(A)”.

Pub. L. 105–178, § 1103lSubsec. (b)(3)(B). ()(3)(E)(ii)(III), substituted “(5)(B) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century)” for “(5)(B)”.

Pub. L. 105–178, § 1103lSubsec. (b)(4). ()(3)(E)(ii)(IV), substituted “section 104(b)(5) (as in effect on the day before the date of enactment of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century)” for “section 104(b)(5)”.

Pub. L. 102–3881992— amended section generally, substituting “Beginning in fiscal year 1994” for “After second calendar year” as subsec. (a)(1) heading, “paragraphs (1), (3), and (5)” for “paragraphs (1), (2), (5), and (6)” in subsec. (a)(1) and (2), “Beginning in fiscal year 1996” for “After fourth calendar year” as subsec. (a)(2) heading, “paragraph (1), (3), or (5)” for “paragraph (1), (2), or (6)” in subsec. (b)(1)(A)(iii), and “paragraph (1), (3), or (5)(B)” for “paragraph (1), (2), (5)(B), or (6)” in subsec. (b)(3)(B).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2012 Amendment

Pub. L. 112–141section 3(a) of Pub. L. 112–141section 101 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 2012 Amendment note under .

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Pub. L. 102–388, title III, § 327(b)106 Stat. 1550

“The amendments made by subsection (a) of this section [amending this section] shall take effect .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date

Pub. L. 102–143, title III, § 333(e)105 Stat. 947

“The amendments made by subsection (a) of this section [enacting this section] shall take effect .”
, , , provided that:

Study on State Compliance With Requirements for Revocation and Suspension of Drivers’ Licenses

Pub. L. 102–240, title I, § 1094105 Stat. 2025, , , provided that the Secretary would conduct a study of State efforts to comply with the provisions of this section relating to revocation and suspension of drivers’ licenses, and would transmit to Congress a report on the results of the study by .