By Jeff Kennedy
DWI With A Commercial Drivers License in Tarrant County
If you are a commercial driver, your livelihood could be lost if you’re convicted of a DWI. Connect with a CDL DWI lawyer at The Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy. We can help you avoid a conviction, and even your career.
When you drive for a living, your commercial drivers license (CDL) is imperative to obtaining income and providing for you and your family. If you lose your CDL due to a driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge, you will probably lose your job and have trouble with all the other consequences that come after a conviction.
So what will happen to you if you have a CDL and have been charged with a DWI in Texas?
Commercial DWI under Texas law
Commercial drivers are held to a much higher standard, and the consequences are harsher than if you did not have a CDL. In Texas, a Commercial DWI is a DWI when holding a commercial drivers license, regardless if it occurred on the job or off the job. State law dictates that you cannot have a BAC of .04 or higher, and when in a personal vehicle the level is .08 BAC.
Fines And Penalties For A Commercial DWI With A CDL Are As Follows:
Fines
- First Offense: Fines will start at several thousand dollars, with the exact amount being based on the details of your case.
- Repeat Offenses: Fines will be much higher, which can exceed $10,000.
CDL Suspension Revocation
The Texas Transportation Code (TTC) has outlined additional disqualification penalties for anyone who has a commercial drivers license and is convicted of a DWI . You will also have to deal with a ALR hearing regarding your CDL immediately after a DWI arrest has taken place.
- Extended Suspension: A CDL holder convicted of a DWI in Texas will have significantly longer suspension of their CDL.
- You will be disqualified for one year if you are convicted of a DWI or have refused to submit to a BAC test.
- You will be disqualified for three years if you were transporting hazardous materials (requiring a placard) or you refused to submit to a BAC test while transporting these materials.
- Life Suspension – If you are convicted for a second time or refuse a BAC test during the second arrest.
- Revocation Risk: Very often, a CDL can be fully revoked due to a DWI, effectively barring the driver from operating commercial permanently or after a lengthy suspension.
Jail Time
- Mandatory Jail Sentence: Texas law mandates mandator jail time for commercial DWI offenses. The length is based on your offenses and whether there are previous convictions.
- Enhanced Penalties: If there are aggravating factors, such as causing an accident or sustaining injuries, there can be longer sentences.
Additional Penalties
- Increased Insurance Premiums: A commercial DWI will increase insurance premiums substantially, which will affect the driver and employer.
- Mandatory Treatment: Often, the courts will require DUI education or substance abuse treatment programs as a condition of their sentence.
- Criminal Record Impact: A Commercial DWI conviction will remain on your record forever, which will cause obvious problems finding employment and professional licensing.
Other Consequences of a DWI Besides Losing Your CDL
Not only could you lose your job and your livelihood when you are convicted of a DWI in Texas, but you could also face many other negative consequences. You could go to jail or prison, face fines you can’t afford, be placed on probation, be ordered to attend treatment classes, and be forced to do community service.
Job issues and heavy fines could destroy your financial security and could create relationship problems for you. Having a crime on your record can sometimes impact where you can live. You could deal with self-confidence issues and mental health problems related to job loss and the conviction of a DWI.
You can see that a DWI is a serious matter, even if it’s a misdemeanor offense. A Fort Worth DWI lawyer can help you during this difficult time.
How Can a DWI Lawyer in Fort Worth Help You?
You are smart enough to take a DWI charge seriously, so you’re looking into getting help from a lawyer. But what does your lawyer do, exactly?
They start by examining the circumstances of your charge. They look for a defense angle they could possibly use to get your charge dropped or reduced. They give you legal advice that helps you deal with your criminal charges and prevents you from making things worse for yourself.
They can negotiate a plea agreement that could improve your situation, or they can fight your DWI in court. A CDL DWI lawyer could be a great asset to you when faced with a DWI charge in Fort Worth.
Contact a CDL DWI Lawyer in Fort Worth
You don’t have to give up your future without a fight. Talk to a Fort Worth CDL DWI lawyer about whether you have options for fighting your charge and keeping your license. Call The Law Offices of Jeff C. Kennedy at 817-605-1010, or complete the form below to reach our office.