(1) Each employer shall require prospective applicants for employment as a driver of a commercial motor vehicle to provide the information required by section 60-4,161.

(2) No employer may knowingly allow, require, permit, or authorize a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle in the United States in any of the following circumstances:

(a) During any period in which the driver does not have a current commercial learner's permit or commercial driver's license or does not have a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver's license with the proper class or endorsements. An employer may not use a driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle who violates any restriction on the driver's commercial learner's permit or commercial driver's license;

(b) During any period in which the driver has a commercial learner's permit or commercial driver's license disqualified by a state, has lost the right to operate a commercial motor vehicle in a state, or has been disqualified from operating a commercial motor vehicle;

(c) During any period in which the driver has more than one commercial learner's permit or commercial driver's license;

(d) During any period in which the driver, the commercial motor vehicle he or she is operating, or the motor carrier operation is subject to an out-of-service order; or

(e) In violation of a federal, state, or local law or regulation pertaining to railroad-highway grade crossings.

(3) Any employer who violates this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a Class III misdemeanor.