Yes, a DWI will affect a commercial driver’s license (CDL). If the courts convict you of a dr charge in the Lone Star State, the Texas Department of Public Safety will suspend your commercial driver’s license (CDL) for at least a year.
This is true no matter what you were driving at the time of the incident. Getting a DWI in your personal vehicle will also affect your CDL.
Legal Limits Are Lower for Drivers With a CDL Driving a Commercial Vehicle
Under both Texas law and rules set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration apply when a driver who holds a CDL gets a DWI in a commercial vehicle. When operating a tractor-trailer truck or other commercial vehicle, the legal limit is a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04 percent. The legal blood alcohol content limit established under Texas law, as in most states, is .08 percent in a personal vehicle.
This means it is much easier to get a DWI behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle than your personal car.
You Will Face Significant Penalties for a DWI Conviction
No matter what you were driving at the time of your DWI arrest, the consequences for testing over the legal limit are the same. You will face a Class B misdemeanor charge. If convicted, you could receive the following:
- Up to six months in jail
- Up to $2,000 in fines
- Mandatory attendance in an Alcohol Awareness Program
- A driver’s license suspension
- A one-year suspension of your CDL
- Probation
- Community service
With each subsequent DWI conviction, the penalties increase significantly. In fact, if you get a second DWI conviction, the Texas Department of Public Safety (TxDPS) will disqualify your CDL for life.
You Can Fight to Keep Your CDL and Driving Privileges
If you can beat the DWI charges, you will not have to face many of the DWI penalties associated with a conviction. You may even be able to challenge the Administrative License Revocation (ALR) you automatically receive after a DWI arrest.
Challenging the ALR
You only have a short time to file for a hearing to appeal the disqualification of your CDL. However, it is imperative that you act quickly. You only have 20 days to notify TxDPS you would like to contest the disqualification.
If you already challenged the revocation through an administrative hearing and lost, you may be able to appeal that decision as well. We understand how important your CDL and driving privileges are to you and can help you navigate this process.
Avoiding Criminal Penalties
The best way to avoid the most significant criminal penalties of getting a DWI is to avoid a conviction. The Texas drunk driving defense lawyers from Eddington Worley can help you build a solid defense strategy and pursue a more favorable outcome in your case. This could include:
- Getting your charges dropped
- Negotiating lesser charges
- Presenting a strong case for acquittal
- Negotiating a sentence that limits your driver’s license suspension
Let Eddington Worley Help You Fight a DWI Conviction
The drunk driving defense attorneys from Eddington Worley understand that your CDL is integral to your livelihood. We know a suspension or revocation, even for a short time, could cost you your job and make it difficult for your family to make ends meet. Even if you get your CDL back, it can be difficult to get or keep a driving job with a DWI charge or conviction on your record.
You can count on our team to fight for your driving privileges after a Texas DWI arrest. Call us as soon as possible after your DWI stop at 855-600-6695. We can go to work immediately, challenging your ALR and beginning to build a strong defense on your behalf.
