It’s important to understand that, in Virginia, it doesn’t matter if you were driving a commercial vehicle or your own vehicle under the influence. If you are convicted of a DUI in any vehicle, your commercial driver’s license can be suspended for a year or more for any of the following offenses:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol (.04 percent or higher)
- Driving under the influence of a controlled substance
- Refusing to submit to either a breathalyzer or a blood test to detect alcohol or drugs (under Virginia’s implied consent law)
- Causing a fatality through the negligent operation of a vehicle, including while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
There is one major exception to the one-year suspension rule: if you’re convicted of a DUI while driving a load considered “hazardous,” you can lose your commercial license for up to three years. And, if this is your second DUI violation in either your personal or commercial vehicle, a conviction can mean a lifetime ban from driving a commercial vehicle.
A Conviction Can Destroy Your Career
Clearly, a conviction has the power to destroy your career as a commercial driver. This is why it’s so important that you hire an attorney as soon as possible after you are charged with a DUI. An experienced DUI attorney will be able to properly assess your case and let you know what your best course of action is. Don’t lie down and give up without finding out what your options are. Call 888-386-3898 and let me help you fight.
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