Penalties for a DUI with a CDL [Infographic]

Penalties for a DUI with a CDL

Penalties for a DUI with a CDL

Commercial drivers are held to a higher standard than ordinary drivers in Arizona, and the serious penalties for a DUI with a commercial driver's license (CDL) reflect this fact.

Commercial drivers are also held to a higher standard insofar as the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) limit when driving a commercial vehicle in Arizona is 0.04%, compared to the 0.08% BAC legal limit for regular drivers.

However, if a commercial driver is charged with a DUI while driving a personal vehicle, the regular 0.08% standard is used.

Regardless of whether the DUI occurs in the driver's commercial or personal vehicle, the following penalties will still apply:

  • A one-year suspension of the CDL for a first DUI offense

  • A lifetime CDL suspension for a second DUI offense

  • Even if a first DUI offense occurred prior to the driver receiving a CDL, a second offense as a commercial driver will still lead to a lifetime CDL suspension

  • A CDL driver's normal license will also be suspended for a period ranging from 30 to 90 days for a first offense

In addition to these serious penalties, a driver may also face the following consequences:

  • The possibility of jail time, probation and extensive fines

  • Mandatory counseling for alcohol use

  • Mandatory use of an ignition interlock device (IID)

It should also be noted that a DUI received while operating a commercial vehicle will lead to more severe fines and penalties than an ordinary DUI charge since it is classified as a Class 1 misdemeanor.

These DUI penalties apply to Class A, B and C commercial drivers, and a single DUI conviction is capable of ending or negatively impacting the trajectory of any commercial driver's career.

If you have a CDL and have been charged with a DUI, contact the Arizona CDL attorneys at Tyler Allen Law Firm immediately to help fight your case.

Sources:

https://www.arizdui.com/arizona-dui-defense/how-does-a-dui-affect-a-cdl-in-arizona/

https://www.dmv.org/az-arizona/suspended-cdl.php