A Pennsylvania DUI conviction often results in a PA license suspension. These suspensions may seriously affect your ability to get to and from your place of employment, however, if your employment involves driving regularly then the impact may be significantly more serious. Drivers who have their Commercial Drivers License or CDL face stiffer suspensions then those with regular licenses and a conviction can effectively end your driving career.
The Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act that was implemented in 2005 by the Pennsylvania legislature has mandated more stringent penalties for CDL licensees who have been convicted of driving under the influence. Some of the most significant aspects of the legislation are the legal BAC level for CDL drivers and the length of their suspensions for one or more DUI convictions.
If a CDL licensed driver is pulled over under suspicion for DUI the legal limit for their BAC is a .08, still the same as other drivers. However, if they are pulled over while operating a commercial vehicle the legal BAC level is significantly lower at .04. The penalty for a conviction on DUI becomes the most problematic aspect for any CDL driver. It does not matter if the driver was operating their personal vehicle or a commercial vehicle, if a CDL driver is convicted of a DUI then their CDL license will be suspended for one year, with no chance of obtaining an Occupational Limited License. If the CDL driver is convicted for a second DUI then there will be a lifetime suspension of their license effectively ending their career as a professional driver professional driver.
The suspension of a CDL license can have an over reaching affect on your ability to maintain gainful employment, ultimately affecting yours and your family's lives. If you have been arrested and charged with PA DUI and have a Commercial Drivers License do not risk ending your career, contact Jason R. Antoine for quality DUI defense.
