What Is a Commercial DUI?
April 24, 2024
Commercial truck drivers are held to far higher standards than other motorists because of the sheer size of the vehicle that they are operating. A fully loaded truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and it can cause serious injuries in a crash. Truck drivers need all their skills and sound decision-making to operate their trucks safely. If they have more than one drink, they are not only risking a DUI, but they are jeopardizing the lives of everyone else on the road. Truck drivers should not even have a single solitary drink anytime close to driving.
A DUI Means That You Cannot Drive a Truck
Truck drivers should be cautious and not engage in drinking before they get behind the wheel or while driving. Simply stated, their livelihood is at stake. If a truck driver is found guilty of a DUI, they will lose their ability to drive a truck. The law will impose a one-year suspension of a commercial driver’s license for a DUI conviction. Then, the driver may not be able to get hired by any other trucking company once their employer does a background check and learns of the conviction. Employers should be scared of their liability, and they could be even more in trouble when they hire a driver with a history of driving under the influence.
Commercial DUI Laws Are Very Strict
The laws for commercial DUI are far stricter than those that passenger car drivers must follow. Usually, a driver is presumed to have been intoxicated when their blood alcohol content is 0.08 or greater. Truck drivers face a much lower legal limit. Truck drivers can be guilty of DUI when their blood alcohol content is 0.04 or higher. As a frame of reference, a 0.08 blood alcohol content is the equivalent of two drinks. Truck drivers can be guilty of DUI when they consume anything more than one drink. They should not even take the chance to have one drink because they never know when it will put them over the limit and land them in legal trouble.
DUI can mean more than just driving after consuming alcohol. Under state law, intoxication can also include consumption of controlled substances, including drugs and prescription medications. The driver may be taking a medication that is completely legal, or they may have a prescription for medical marijuana, but they are still violating DUI laws.
There May Be Circumstances That Lead to Greater Punishments
Truck drivers may be punished even more severely when their blood alcohol content is greater than 0.10 or they are convicted of a second DUI. Then, they could face a permanent suspension of their CDL, meaning they may never be able to drive a truck again. Even if the trucking company tests for alcohol, there is only so much they can do when the driver is out on the road and making their own decisions. Much depends on the individual driver’s choices when they are on the road.
If a truck driver has been charged with DUI, their livelihood is at risk. You must get immediate legal representation from an experienced DUI defense attorney to learn whether there is any way to fight the charges against you. You may face jail time if you have injured another driver in an accident. It is vital that you have legal counsel to represent you, and you should reach out to an attorney immediately after you have been arrested and charged with DUI.
Contact Our West Chester DUI Defense Lawyers at the Law Offices of Heather J. Mattes
Our West Chester DUI defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Heather J. Mattes can provide you with diligent and pragmatic legal representation when you have been charged with drunk driving. You should not be without an attorney for any time after being charged with a crime. You can schedule a free initial consultation with one of our attorneys by calling us today at 610-431-7900 or contacting us online. Our office is in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and we help clients in Chester County, Bucks County, Delaware County, Lehigh County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia County.
