If you have a CDL, losing your license can mean losing your livelihood!
If you have a Michigan commercial driver’s license (CDL) and you use it for work, then you know that losing your CDL would be devastating. You would lose your livelihood, your ability to find stable work in a field where you’re experienced, and have no way to support yourself and your family. Which is why getting charged and convicted of drunk driving can be such a big deal when you have a CDL in Michigan.
Are the drunk driving limits the same for people with a CDL?
In Michigan, anyone caught driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .08% is considered drunk. However, this rule doesn’t apply to CDL drivers. Under Michigan law, anyone caught driving a commercial vehicle, with a BAC of only .04%, will lose their CDL. SO there’s considerably less lenience when you’re driving under a commercial license.
If I get a DUI in my car will they suspend my CDL?
In a word, yes! If you are convicted of any kind of drunk or drugged driving offense, whether it’s an OWI, meaning Operating While Intoxicated, or an OWVI, meaning Operating While Visibly Impaired, your CDL in Michigan will also be suspended. Even if the DUI conviction had nothing to do with work and you were just driving with your regular license at the time, your CDL will still be suspended for a minimum of 1 year. This is completely non-negotiable, and there’s nothing you can do to avoid it, short of avoiding the initial conviction.
What happens if I get convicted of drunk driving in Michigan?
The first time you’re convicted of drunk driving, your CDL will be suspended for 1 year. The second time you’re convicted of a DUI, your CDL will be taken away for life. Yes, you read that right – for life! And the same time periods apply if your conviction was for drugged driving, and for refusing to take a breath test under the implied consent laws.
Are there other crimes that could jeopardize my CDL?
There are other violations that could result in you losing your CDL for a year the first time, and for life after a second violation. These include:
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident;
- Using the vehicle to commit a felony (excluding a felony involving controlled substances);
- Driving a CMV when your CDL was revoked or suspended for prior CMV violations;
- Causing a fatality through the negligent operation of a CMV.
Hiring a skilled DUI defense attorney can make all the difference to your future!
A drunk driving conviction can permanently alter your career. Police and prosecutors make every effort to convict defendants they believe are guilty, but we’ll work even harder to craft the best defense we can for your case. You deserve great legal protection, from proven DUI defense lawyers. So call us today to set an appointment at 866 766 5245 (866 7-No Jail). We are here to help you. Our drunk driving defense team has been fighting for CDL holders in the lower peninsula of Michigan since the last century.
