Commercial DUI Attorney in West Palm Beach, FL Safeguarding Your CDL and Career in Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and Throughout South Florida
Although the law treats drunk or drugged driving as a serious offense, it holds commercial drivers to a higher standard because of their responsibility to operate large trucks or passenger buses. As a result, an arrest or conviction for intoxicated driving can have severe consequences for a CDL holder, including the loss of one’s license and the inability to work as a commercial driver. You deserve dedicated, experienced legal counsel to protect your rights and interests after a DUI arrest. Let West Palm Beach commercial driver DUI lawyer Brandon Dinetz advocate on your behalf after an arrest. As a former prosecutor, he knows how the state investigates and presents DUI cases; he uses his insights to develop tailored legal solutions to pursue favorable outcomes for commercial drivers facing prosecution for DUI. Contact BD Law today for an initial case evaluation to learn more about your charges and discuss your options.
Understanding Commercial DUI Laws in Florida
A driver ordinarily commits the offense of DUI when they operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 or more. However, Florida law imposes a stricter limit on CDL holders while driving commercial vehicles. Under the law, a commercial driver may face a DUI conviction when they have a BAC of 0.04 percent or more while driving a commercial vehicle or if they operate any motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
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Penalties for Commercial Driver DUI
A commercial driver convicted of DUI will face an automatic suspension of their CDL. This suspension is in addition to other penalties imposed for a DUI conviction. Penalties imposed for DUI convictions include:
- A term of probation, which courts must impose if they decline to sentence a defendant to incarceration
- Jail or prison time, with sentencing ranges dependent on whether a defendant faces a misdemeanor or felony charge, the number of prior DUI convictions a defendant has, and any other aggravating factors in the defendant’s case
- Suspension of driving privileges
- Fines ranging from several hundred to several thousand dollars
- Mandatory ignition interlock device requirements (in some cases)
Unfortunately, even one DUI conviction can have devastating consequences for a commercial driver. Many employers have policies against hiring commercial drivers with a DUI on their record; even if a commercial driver regains their CDL, they may face challenges obtaining future employment.
Defenses for Comercial Drivers Facing DUI Charges
When your employment is at stake during a DUI prosecution, an effective defense strategy can protect your reputation and future. Defenses you might raise against DUI charges include:
- Challenging the legality of the traffic stop due to the lack of reasonable suspicion/probable cause
- Challenging the reliability of field sobriety testing
- Challenging the reliability of chemical testing
A defense strategy may also involve challenging the validity of a prior DUI conviction to avoid the catastrophic consequences of a second or subsequent DUI conviction, which may result in the permanent revocation of a CDL.
How Can a West Palm Beach Commercial Driver DUI Lawyer Help?
When you get arrested for DUI as a commercial driver, hiring experienced legal counsel can make a difference in the outcome of your case. Let a commercial DUI attorney in West Palm Beach, FL, from BD Law help you pursue a favorable resolution of your charges by:
- Independently investigating your charges to obtain all available evidence, rather than simply relying on the case file turned over by the prosecution, to ensure you have the strongest possible defense against a DUI charge
- Explaining your charges to you to help you make informed decisions at each step of the case
- Reviewing the facts of your case to identify potential defenses
- Aggressively challenging the prosecution’s case, including filing motions to exclude unreliable or inadmissible evidence
- Pursuing every avenue to obtain the best possible outcome in your case, even if that means going to trial to fight your charges
Contact a Seasoned West Palm Beach Commercial Driver DUI Lawyer from BD Law
As a commercial driver, a DUI conviction can mean losing the right to practice your chosen profession. Don’t leave the outcome of your DUI charges to chance. Contact BD Law today for a confidential consultation with a commercial DUI attorney in West Palm Beach, FL, to discuss your legal rights and options after getting arrested for DUI while operating a commercial vehicle in South Florida.