DUI Charges and CDL Holders in Manassas
If you are a commercial driver who has been accused or charged with driving under the influence you may be facing increased penalties, including a license suspension, and therefore, your loss of ability to work. With this in mind, the following is information on what you should know about potential repercussions of a DUI charge on your commercial drivers license. To begin building a defense, call and schedule a consultation with a Manassas DUI lawyer today.
Consequences of a DUI on Commercial Drivers
If he or she is charged with a DUI, the immediate consequence is a seven-day administrative license suspension, which means they can’t drive anywhere for a week. If he or she is convicted, the CDL is very much in peril because the CDL is not something that can be reissued in restricted form.
With that said there are differing requirements surrounding different levels of CDLs from state to state. The person needs to become familiar with what will happen to their CDL if they’re convicted. In most cases, a person who has a commercial driver’s license will not be able to get a restricted license to drive for work purposes, like a normal driver without a CDL would be able to in the same circumstances. The CDL is not something that can be restricted and so in many cases that person will lose their ability to make a living the way that they have chosen if convicted of a DUI.
If Only Charged, Will a CDL Driver Lose Their Ability to Work?
That question depends on their employer because there’s nothing under Virginia law that affects a person’s ability to drive if they’re charged with a crime but not convicted. However, the person’s employer might have hesitations about continuing to employ this person.
What Happens If Convicted?
If they’re convicted, they’ll be subject to a license suspension and that license suspension will at least be a hard suspension where they cannot drive under the CDL, because there won’t be an alternative option that can be reissued in restricted form.
Additionally, the long-term implications are that it will most likely be very difficult for that person to find work once their CDL is revoked. In the short term, they’ll lose it for at least a year or possibly longer, if it’s a multiple offense.
How An Attorney Can Help
If you are charged with a DUI as a CDL holder it is incredibly important that you reach out to an attorney as soon as possible so they can begin preparing your defense. Even if you are not able to get the charges dropped, an experienced lawyer may be able to assist you in reducing the penalties and keeping your ability to drive. To find out more about your case and what you may be facing, call and schedule a consultation today.
