---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 342"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "342"
heading: "Operation of a common carrier under the influence of alcohol or drugs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/342"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 17A — Common Carrier Operation under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs"
---

# §342. Operation of a common carrier under the influence of alcohol or drugs


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) operates or directs the operation of a common carrier while under the influence of alcohol or any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act ([21 U.S.C. 802](/usc/21/802.md))), shall be imprisoned not more than fifteen years or fined under this title, or both.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1971(a), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–59; amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VI, §§ 6473(a), (b), 6482(b), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4379, 4382.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–690 substituted “any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802))” for “drugs”, “fifteen” for “five”, and “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.