Commercial (CDL) DWI

Commercial (CDL) DWI

CDL ARREST & PENALTIES

Truck drivers with a Commerical Driver's License (CDL, also called a Class-A or a Class-B license) are subject to different standards when it comes to drinking before or while driving. A conviction for someone with a CDL can affect your ability to make a living for you and your family . . . so the goal is to not be convicted of DWI. In many cases any job that requires driving requires a clean record.

If you have been charged with DWI while you were driving a vehicle requiring you to have a CDL, you need to call us immediately, to ensure that your rights are preserved and that you receive the best possible defense. Depending on the circumstances in your case, it is possible that your case could be dismissed or you could be acquitted, allowing you to move forward with your life, and your career.

STRATEGIC DWI DEFENSE

At the Ramsay Law Firm, PLLC, we do not want to see anyone lose their method of making a living. In Minnesota, a truck driver with a blood alcohol concentration of .04 can be charged with DWI. This is half of the state’s limit of .08. This is because the state holds truck drivers to a much higher standard. They are driving much larger vehicles, which are more dangerous on the road. They have to be more vigilant, ensuring that they do not hit any vehicles on the road. A crash with a large truck has a higher chance of being fatality.

When building a strategic defense for you, your Minneapolis  & St. Paul DWI attorney will look at all aspects of the case. For instance: if field sobriety tests led to the charge, you may have been tired from driving a long distance. There are many reasons why a police officer may suspect you to be drunk although establishing a blood alcohol concentration of .04 takes very few drinks and does not typically constitute drunkenness.

DEDICATION

No matter what the reason behind the charge, you can count on our dedication to your case to increase the chances that you will be back on the road as soon as possible. At the Ramsay Law Firm, PLLC, we will work hard to protect you, so that you do not have to pay the harshest penalties or any of the DWI penalties.

In most cases, truck drivers are first time offenders and that means the penalties are minor, but the conviction can still result in job loss. We want to see you keep your job and will do everything possible to ensure you do that.

MINNESOTA COMMERCIAL DWI LAWYER

As a truck driver, you know how important it is for you to hang on to your CDL. Without it, you can no longer work and may have to choose a career that limits your earning potential. A commercial DWI affects more than just your current job, it can affect future jobs.

Commercial drivers are held to a different standard than non-commercial drivers, as they are driving very large vehicles that are dangerous on the roads. It is important that the individuals behind the wheels of these vehicles exercise extreme caution when driving, as one mistake can be fatal and not necessarily for the truck driver.

If you have experienced a CDL arrest due to alleged DWI, and your CDL is now at risk, it is your right to fight the charges. When you have a qualified Minneapolis DWI attorney with you every step of the way, you increase the chances that you will be able to resume your career.

CHALLENGING COMMERCIAL DWIS IN MINNESOTA

Non-commercial drivers must have a blood alcohol concentration under .08 percent. However, a commercial driver must not have a blood alcohol concentration over .04 percent.

A commercial driver found to have alcohol in their system, is one who is prosecuted aggressively since this offense is taken very seriously. As stated before, large commercial vehicles are dangerous vehicles due to their size. In the case that an accident does occur and someone else is injured or killed, the consequences become much more severe than the commercial DWI itself.

UNDERSTANDING THE COMMERCIAL DWI CONSEQUENCES

For a first-time offense, a commercial driver may lose their CDL for a period of one year. A second DWI offense, however, will result in a lifetime loss of one’s CDL. Furthermore, a commercial driver does not receive a work permit like a non-commercial driver can. The reason is because part of the punishment is suspension or revocation of the CDL and commercial driving is the job.

Another consequence can involve fines. Your St Paul DWI attorney will work with you to try and avoid these consequences. While they may not seem as severe due to only being able to have two offenses before receiving a lifetime ban, and no more offenses being allowed to occur after that (unless driving without a CDL, which has a different set of consequences), it is still ideal to have legal representation. Without that representation, it is possible to face the maximum consequences when you don’t have to.