Can a person with a DWI obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL)? Learn more from the Law Office of Benjamin Arnold.
Can You Get a CDL in Missouri with a DWI?
If you are thinking about driving for a living, you have undoubtedly looked into the criteria, but do you know if you can acquire a CDL if you have had a DUI?
Yes, you can get a CDL in Missouri, even if you have a DWI on your record.
However, a DWI conviction can greatly impact your life both now and in the future. Driving while drunk is a conviction that stays on your driving and criminal records regardless of whether it was a felony or a misdemeanor. Commercial drivers (CDL) are more susceptible than other drivers to the long-term effects of a DWI.
To reclaim their CDL license and resume operating commercial motor vehicles, CDL drivers frequently need the counsel of a DWI lawyer in Kansas City, Missouri.
As you negotiate these incredibly complex situations, the Law Office of Benjamin Arnold has the legal expertise to fight for you and defend you in court.
Can Someone with a DWI Get a CDL?
You might be wondering if you can obtain your CDL with a DWI if you want to drive professionally for a living as a bus or over-the-road truck driver.
While having a DWI on your driving record won’t prevent you from earning a CDL, it can make finding employment as a professional truck driver more challenging.
When seeking jobs, attending a trucking school will be viewed favorably.
Although most drivers can have a first-offense DWI removed after ten years if they have a clean record, if you have a CDL when you get a DUI, it stays on your record permanently.
How Long Does It Take to Get a CDL After a DWI?
How long after a DWI can you acquire a CDL is something you need to know if you have a DWI on your record but want to drive for a living.
Most motorists convicted of driving while intoxicated for the first time will have their licenses suspended for 30 days. However, a CDL holder will have their license suspended for a year.
Let’s say the commercial driver was impaired and hauling hazardous chemicals. If that occurs, they will be stripped of their license for three years for the first infraction and forever for subsequent ones.
How Soon After a DWI Can I Get My CDL Back?
Knowing when you can get your CDL back after a DWI conviction is important if you have been found guilty of driving under the influence. You can learn more about the CDL requirements you must satisfy as soon as possible by consulting a professional Kansas City DWI lawyer.
You must inform your employer before the end of the following business day if a DWI offense results in the suspension, revocation, or disqualification of your CDL.
You might also need to take the following actions:
- Enroll in and successfully finish a program for traffic offenders who abuse alcohol and other drugs.
- Pay the $45 reinstatement fee.
- If there was a criminal conviction, pay the court costs or the lawyer’s expenses.
- When the suspension is lifted, you should apply for SR-22 insurance and continue to carry it for at least three years.
- Pass the commercial driving exam on the second try.
In the end, the court will decide when your CDL might be reinstated and what other necessary measures you should take.
Also, when their commercial license is suspended or revoked, CDL holders are not permitted to operate any commercial vehicles. However, they may apply for restricted driving privileges to operate a personal car.
What Effect Can a DWI Have on a Commercial Driver’s License?
You might be curious about how a DUI impacts a CDL license if you have been charged with DWI while operating a non-commercial vehicle. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration states that federal and state laws apply to commercial drivers.
Whether operating a personal vehicle or a commercial truck, CDL holders who are caught driving while impaired may have their licenses suspended or revoked. Your Missouri driver’s record will also be impacted.
What Happens to My CDL Following a DWI Arrest?
What happens to my CDL after a DWI arrest? This is a question that truck drivers, whose income depends on having a CDL, may ask.
A CDL driver must notify their employer immediately if they have been detained for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other prohibited substances.
Even before the issue is brought to court, their CDL may be suspended if they refuse to take a breathalyzer or if their BAC test results are over 0.04. You can get legal representation in Missouri by contacting a Kansas City DWI attorney today.
Does a DWI Affect My Ability to Drive a Commercial Vehicle?
You might wonder, “Does obtaining a DUI conviction risk my CDL license” if a law enforcement official judges that you are operating your own vehicle while driving with a blood alcohol percentage over the legal limit.
A DWI could affect your ability to drive a commercial vehicle. You might need to pass a background check to get a job if you have a CDL.
A DWI charge will affect your CDL license regardless of whether you are charged while operating your personal car. This will appear on any background check necessary for a job because it will stay on both your driving record and criminal record.
The following infractions could result in a one- to ten-year CDL suspension:
- Having a BAC of at least.04%
- Refusing to do a breathalyzer test
- Driving while under the influence of a drug
- Committing a crime while driving a company car
- Driving a commercial vehicle with a CDL that is canceled, suspended, revoked, or otherwise invalid
- Using a commercial vehicle recklessly or criminally, such as through motor vehicle manslaughter, and causing a fatality
If this is your second infraction, you might never again be allowed to operate a commercial vehicle.
Even after a single conviction, several crimes can result in a lifetime ban from holding a CDL license. These charges include, for instance, distributing illegal substances or engaging in “serious forms of trafficking in persons” while operating a commercial vehicle.
It is best to hire a Kansas City DWI attorney to get current charges dropped or prior DWIs erased.
After a DWI, How to Keep Your CDL Safe
After a DWI, the Law Office of Benjamin Arnold can help you secure your CDL.
The best course of action is to contest the DWI accusations. These accusations can be refuted or rejected in several ways, including:
- Contesting the urine or blood samples
- Taking issue with the field sobriety test
- Contesting the legality of the traffic stop
Additionally, you can have the charges dropped, which lowers the possibility of having your license suspended or revoked.
As we create your DWI defense plan, the Law Office of Benjamin Arnold will give you information and counsel.
You can learn all there is to know about Missouri’s CDL DWI regulations by contacting a Kansas City DWI lawyer at the Law Office of Benjamin Arnold today for more information.
