(a) A driver is disqualified from driving for a contract carrier under this subchapter if the driver has committed two (2) or more serious traffic violations under § 27-16-401 within a three-year period.

(b) (1) A contract carrier shall not allow or require a driver to drive or remain on duty for more than:

(A) Ten (10) hours after eight (8) consecutive hours off-duty;

(B) Fifteen (15) hours of combined on-duty time and drive time since last obtaining eight (8) consecutive hours of off-duty time; or

(C) Seventy (70) hours of on-duty and drive time in any period of eight (8) consecutive days.

(2) After twenty-four (24) hours off-duty, a driver begins a new seven (7) consecutive day period, and on-duty time is reset to zero (0).

(3) A transport vehicle driver who encounters an emergency and cannot, because of that emergency, safely complete a transportation assignment within the ten-hour maximum driving time permitted under this section may drive and be permitted or required to drive a transport motor vehicle for not more than two (2) additional hours in order to complete that transportation assignment or to reach a place offering safety for the occupants of the transport motor vehicle and security for the transport motor vehicle if the transportation assignment reasonably could have been completed within the ten-hour period absent the emergency.

(c) A contract carrier shall maintain and retain for a period of six (6) months accurate time records that show:

(1) The time the driver reports for duty each day;

(2) The total number of hours of on-duty time for each driver for each day;

(3) The time the driver is released from duty each day; and

(4) The total number of hours driven each day.