COMMERCIAL DRIVERS AND DRUNK DRIVING DO NOT MIX IN MINNESOTA
February 19, 2018
You may be well aware of the serious nature of drunk driving criminal charges, but you may not know that a DWI can have a serious impact on your career as well. As a Minnesota commercial driver, accusations of drunk driving are detrimental to your ability to retain the license you need to drive certain types of vehicles.
If you are facing charges of driving while intoxicated while you were behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle, the repercussions and penalties can be steep. At this point, you would be wise to secure defense help as you work to confront these charges and mitigate the potential penalties that may affect your right to drive and your ability to keep your job.
DWI penalties for commercial drivers
There are specific license classifications for commercial drivers — types A, B and C — and a DWI can impact all of them. In fact, any commercial driver, no matter the driver’s classification, could face the total disqualification of his or her license. Some of the penalties associated with commercial drivers and suspected drunk driving or DWI include:
- The disqualification of the commercial license for a period of one year if he or she refuses to submit to a sobriety test of any kind when requested to do so by law enforcement.
- If a commercial driver is transporting any type of hazardous material at the time of an arrest for DWI, his or her license could face a suspension of three years.
- After the initial DWI, a commercial driver will face a lifetime disqualification of his or her commercial license for any subsequent DWI.
For a commercial driver, there is much at stake when accused of drunk driving. Defending yourself against these charges is not only important on a personal level, it is critical for your ability to continue with your career.
Shielding yourself against drunk driving penalties
Fortunately, it is possible to defend yourself against drunk driving penalties. With help, you can challenge the case against you, even calling into question the evidence brought by the prosecution. From challenging the grounds for the initial traffic stop to the results of a Breathalyzer test, there are many ways to defend against DWI charges.
As a commercial driver, you know how important it is to keep your license in good standing, no matter the classification. A conviction is never your only option; you would be wise to learn how you can fight back.