WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has declared Tennessee-licensed commercial driver Kristopher Anthony Adams to be an imminent hazard to public safety and has ordered him not to operate any commercial motor vehicle (CMV) in interstate commerce.  Adams was served the federal order on June 23, 2021.

On June 9, 2021, Adams, a commercial driver’s license (CDL) holder, was operating a tractor-trailer in Adair County, Kentucky, when his vehicle drifted into the opposing lane and collided with another vehicle.  At the time of the crash, Adams was operating in violation of an out-of-service order he received less than 24-hours earlier.  On June 8, 2021, while operating his truck in Branch County, Michigan, Adams bypassed an open weigh station.  Stopped by a Michigan State Police officer, Adams admitted to the use earlier in the day of a Schedule II drug, a violation of federal safety regulations; he was immediately ordered out-of-service.

Despite the Michigan out-of-service order, Adams continued operating his commercial vehicle leading up to the Kentucky, June 9, 2021, crash.

In March 2020, during a federally mandated pre-employment drug and alcohol screening test, Adams tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine, and thereby became disqualified from operating a CMV until such time he successfully completed a statutorily required return-to-duty process overseen by a Substance Abuse Professional.

In a blatant disregard of federal controlled substances prohibitions, Adams continued to operate a commercial motor vehicle; in August 2020, he was involved in a single-vehicle crash in Kentucky; three months later, he was subjected to two separate unannounced roadside inspections in Georgia and received citations for safety violations on both occasions.

FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order states that Adams' "…. blatant and egregious violations of [federal safety regulations] and disregard for the safety of the motoring public … substantially increases the likelihood of serious injury or death to you and motoring public if not discontinued immediately.”

Failing to comply with the provisions of the federal imminent hazard order may result in civil penalties of up to $1,951 for each violation.  Knowing and/or willful violations may result in criminal penalties. 

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