Obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL) allows a blue-collar worker to significantly increase their earning potential. Long-haul commercial drivers and specialist freight drivers can command premium wages for their services and can enter the profession directly with minimal educational expenses.
To maintain their professional licensing, those with a CDL have to perform to a higher standard on the road at all times. Minor traffic infractions can put their commercial license at risk, and major mistakes can potentially cost someone their career. A driving while intoxicated (DWI) offense can lead to any motorist potentially losing their license. A DWI arrest is of particular concern for a commercial driver for two main reasons.
1. Their legal limit is much lower
The average driver can get arrested for a technical DWI when they have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. However, the law is far stricter for those in control of a commercial vehicle at the time of a traffic stop. A BAC of just 0.04% can be enough to lead to someone’s arrest. An infraction in a commercial vehicle will very likely result in someone losing their eligibility for a commercial license.
2. Mistakes on their own time can hurt their careers
Most blue-collar professionals don’t have to worry about minor legal issues affecting their jobs. As long as the issue occurs on their own time and doesn’t result in a lengthy incarceration, a minor offense is unlikely to permanently alter someone’s professional options. However, for those who drive professionally, a DWI arrest in their own vehicle could be enough to cost them their commercial license and their job. Even technical infractions that occur in someone’s private vehicle can leave them unable to drive professionally in the future.
There are, thankfully, numerous options available for those who hope to defend against claims of impaired driving. From questioning test results to providing medical evidence, there are many ways for people facing charges backed by chemical tests to assert their innocence in criminal court. Fighting back against DWI charges is particularly important for those who drive for a living for obvious reasons. Those who mount a successful defense with the assistance of a legal professional can protect their license, their reputation and their insurance rates.