There are many different types of licenses that a person can get in Glastonbury, Connecticut. If you use a commercial driver's license (CDL) to work, you may face serious consequences if you are charged with a DUI. This is because if your CDL is suspended, it will impact your ability to work. Learn more about CDLs and DUIs on this page.
Driving is a privilege in Connecticut, not a right. This is especially true as it concerns commercial driver’s license (CDL) drivers. Glastonbury CDL drivers are held to a higher standard because they receive more training than the average driver on the road. As a result, they are entrusted to operate large machines and carry hazardous materials which could seriously injure themselves or others in the event of an accident. CDL holders are expected to stay vigilant and not do anything that could distract them from driving or impair their driving abilities. Due to this, the punishments for DUI are more severe for DUI holders. You can learn more about the DUI impact on a CDL holder here.
Commercial Driver’s License Holder DUI Penalties
All of the same punishments that apply to non-CDL drivers apply to commercial driver’s license drivers, and then some. Refusing or failing a blood alcohol content (BAC) test will result in a loss of a CDL for one year, and the same applies to a DUI conviction. Further, if operating under a CDL license, the BAC limit is .04% as opposed to the standard .08% for regular drivers. Regardless of what happens on the criminal end, as long as it is found that you refused or failed the BAC test, the CDL suspension is upheld.
Any subsequent DUIs would result in a lifetime disqualification from holding a CDL license. This applies to any and all DUI and DUI-related charges in Connecticut or any other state. However, this could be challenged after 10 years have lapsed. To challenge this lifetime disqualification, the defendant will need to show that there was voluntary participation in an addiction treatment program and that good cause exists for reinstatement of the CDL.
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Further, CDL drivers need to not only concern themselves with state law, but also the federal implications of a DUI. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration oversees this field. In this system, the driver may never have a BAC over .04%, but any refusal to take a BAC test is treated as a failure of said test.
Obtaining a CDL takes serious time and investment and is typically obtained for employment purposes. This means that you face all of the long-term effects of a regular DUI as well as the possibility of not being able to work. Due to this, it is extremely important that someone facing a DUI that has a CDL contacts an attorney who has worked with DUIs and CDL holders before. For help with your situation, contact our office today.
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