The Impact Of A CDL DUI Can Follow Your Career

By Linda Hughes


It has been said that we all make mistakes, and none of us may stand in judgment of another for this reason. Sometimes our life choices lead us into consequences we did not anticipate. However, anyone who drives commercial trucks should already be well aware of the damning consequences of a CDL DUI.

Career ruination can even occur when the accused is in their own private automobile. Rarely do truck drivers actually have the audacity to drink while on the road professionally. However, some might mistakenly assume that getting caught while driving drunk around their own home town does not impact their job.

The hard truth is that the arresting jurisdiction is required to report the matter to the Department of Transportation. The DOT has their own policy in such matters. First and foremost on their list of consequences is to honor any license suspensions the accused may receive, as well as notifying the company that the accused has been working for.

Some states have laws for driving while intoxicated while others have a standard driving under the influence policy. If the driver is lucky, they are in a DWI state, and as such, must actually breath over the limit of 0.08 in order to be arrested. In most jurisdictions, however, simply being prudent enough to limit the amount of alcohol consumed is not enough to protect one from being arrested.

The majority of jurisdictions in the United States can and will arrest anyone who appears to be under the influence. The legal limit on the breathalyzer is simply one part of the procedure, and a urinalysis may be requested or required of the accused. For anyone with a commercial driving permit, they will be required to submit to a test of blood or urine in order to establish their guilt or innocence in the matter.

It would seem that discussing marijuana consumption would be irrelevant since it is illegal in most states. However, charges for driving under the influence of marijuana are becoming more and more common place. This creates a whole new degree of risk for commercial drivers who may consume marijuana in a state that allows it, then drive to a state that does not.

Even if the marijuana consumption was done in the weeks prior to being detained, there are many offices who will attempt to charge the driver anyway. Marijuana can stay in the system for up to a month. This means that many officers will attempt to make a driving under the influence of marijuana charge stick even if the driver did not smoke any pot that day.

Commercial drivers cannot safely consume any drugs, or any amount of alcohol and drive. Abstinence from both is the only way they can truly protect themselves from opportunistic law enforcement personnel who patrol the streets in search of revenue for their jurisdiction. When drinking, calling a cab or a friend is the only good policy, even if it was just a beer over dinner with friends or family.




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