DUI and Commercial Truck Drivers

Commercial truckers rely on their CDL (commercial
driver’s license) to make a living and provide for their families. But what
happens to your CDL if you get a DUI?

Colorado has recently strengthened the penalties for DUI
for individuals that hold a CDL. If you drive a big rig, bus, delivery truck,
or another type of vehicle that requires you to have a CDL, a DUI conviction
could end your career. Because this impacts your livelihood, it’s vital that
you get experienced and aggressive legal representation to protect your rights
and try to minimize these types of consequences.

The Federal government regulates commercial
drivers in the U.S. through the rules outlined in the

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration

. These rules state the
requirements to obtain and keep a license.

Colorado statutes mirror the FMCSA regulations, with additional guidelines on requirements, standards, and penalties, which are found in Title 49 CFR Part 383. According to these rules, there is just a single record for all CDL holders. This means that any DUI conviction will follow you throughout the country and affect your ability to drive commercially.

If you are a commercial driver in Colorado, the laws
related to DUI are harsh and unforgiving. Even if you are arrested for DUI in
your personal vehicle on your own time, you can still lose your CDL for up to a
year if you are convicted.

According to Colorado law, your CDL can be suspended for
one year (or three years if you are a hazardous materials transporter) if you
receive a DUI conviction for any of the following:

Commercial drivers in Colorado are held to a much higher
standard than others. If you hold a CDL and are arrested for DUI, the state DMV
is going to open up two separate cases, one for your personal driver’s license
and one for your CDL.

Per C.R.S. § 42-2-126(3)(d), if you were found to be
driving a commercial vehicle with a BAC of 0.04 or higher, you face a one-year
revocation of your CDL for a first offense. Per C.R.S. § 42-4-125(2), a DUI
combined with a vehicle carrying hazardous materials will result in a
three-year suspension for a first offense. If there is a second offense, you’ll
face a lifetime revocation of CDL privileges.

Even if you are a CDL holder and were driving a
non-commercial or personal vehicle at the time of your DUI arrest, you still
face suspension of your CDL. The revocation can be up to one year if you are
convicted for DUI or DWAI in court or excess BAC at a DMV hearing. A second
offense will result in a lifetime revocation of CDL privileges.

In addition to any mandatory revocation periods,
commercial drivers are also prohibited from using a CDL if there are any
restrictions on their personal driving privileges. This means that, if you have
an ignition interlock restriction, you can’t get a CDL reinstated or apply for
a CDL until this restriction is lifted.

While federal regulations permit possible reinstatement on a lifetime ban after 10 years, this is not something that is possible in Colorado. On top of this, federal law also prohibits judges from issuing sentencing that will mask a DUI conviction on your CDL record. For these reasons alone, it’s vital that you do everything possible to avoid the steep consequences of a conviction.

If you’ve been charged for DUI or DWAI and hold a CDL,
there is a lot at stake. The only way to hold onto your CDL after one of these
arrests is to aggressively fight the charges against you. We can help.

At Anderson & Carnahan, Attorneys at Law, our
experienced Colorado Springs DUI attorneys have a track record of success in
defending the rights of CDL drivers. Don’t let this event ruin your career and
threaten your livelihood. Contact us now at (719) 473-9099 to schedule your
initial consultation.

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DUI and Commercial Truck Drivers

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