Pennsylvanian residents who work as commercial drivers have a separate, special license called a “commercial driver license”, or a CDL. Along with the unique privileges that come along with owning this license, there are also unique applications of DUI law and traffic offenses that apply.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation takes a look at disqualifications and traffic offenses as related to someone who operates a commercial motor vehicle. A disqualification is the usually temporary revocation of someone’s ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle. These disqualifications occur if a driver has committed a major offense, for specific violations, or by having numerous serious traffic offenses over time. Major offenses include:
- Refusing a chemical test for DUI
- Using a commercial vehicle to commit a felony
- Leaving a crash scene
- Causing a fatality through negligent operation of the vehicle
FindLaw also examines the commercial DUI regulations, which differ from the regulations applied to personal vehicles. For example, in many states there’s the FMCSA regulations for commercial truck drivers, meaning their blood alcohol content (BAC) level can only be up to .04 percent before it’s considered illegal. These drivers will also face steeper sentences, longer license suspension times, and must notify employers of any offenses they’re charged with regardless of whether or not it occurs in the company vehicle or personal vehicle.
Commercial drivers often have more to lose when faced with the possibility of losing their license, due to the fact that their income directly depends on it. This is why many commercial vehicle drivers facing accusations of CDL violations will seek legal help.
