A violation stays visible to employers until all of these are true (49 CFR 382.719):

• The SAP has reported that the driver completed the evaluation and education or treatment.
• The employer has reported a negative return-to-duty test.
• The driver's current employer has reported that all follow-up tests are complete.
• Five years have passed since the date of the violation determination.

So a violation can stay longer than five years if the driver has not finished the return-to-duty process or follow-up testing. Information may be removed earlier only through FMCSA's correction process (49 CFR 382.717).