Drink driving in the United States has severe ramifications if one is caught and successfully convicted. Given the fact that many accidents and fatalities are caused by drivers who operate vehicles while drunk, most states in the United States have severe penalties for drivers caught driving under the influence. This also applies to drivers who operate commercial vehicles. Have you ever wondered how a DUI case can affect your commercial driver’s license? Here is everything you need to know about DUI charges for commercial drivers.
General DUI Penalties
Typically these will vary across the state and may differ depending on the circumstances of each case For example, repeat offenders are likely to face stiff penalties while first-time offenders may be asked to attend DUI education programs or lose their licenses for a period of time. For repeat offenders, or for those who are caught driving under very high levels of intoxication, penalties may involve jail time and even permanent loss of their licenses. For this reason, it is generally a bad idea to drive while intoxicated. If you are in a new area and are not sure what the law there says about minimum blood alcohol levels, the best thing to do is to either abstain from drinking completely if you are going to drive or find an alternative such as taking an Uber.
Commercial Drivers
If a person with a commercial driving license is caught driving under the influence, the law is generally the same when it comes to penalties. They are likely to be sentenced based on their history with such charges, the severity of the offense, and so on. However, there is a subtle difference between the two. As a commercial driver, you cannot work if you do not have a commercial driver’s license. For this reason, the loss or suspension of your license will automatically mean that you are also going to lose your job. This can have severe consequences for your employment prospects, both long-term and short-term.
Short Term Consequences
If your license is revoked for a period of time, there is a chance that you can try to get it back by attending court-mandated DUI education programs if they are required. Even if they are not required by the court, it is a good idea to enroll in such a program anyway for several reasons. These include the fact that you will learn useful facts about DUI that may help you avoid repeat offenses and perhaps even recalibrate your relationship with alcohol for the better The other reason is that enrolling in such classes can help soften the penalties that you will face when the case goes to trial. This is because it demonstrates to the judge that you are remorseful and that you wish to take remedial action.
Long-Term Effects
The fact that you will be unable to work for the duration of the license suspension means that there is going to be a gap in your resume. This may prove very difficult to explain to prospective employers. It may also cause such employers to undertake background investigations where they are likely to unearth your DUI conviction.
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