You may already know how tough Louisiana law is when it comes to penalizing those who are charged with driving while intoxicated. It is possible for convicted drivers to receive fines, jail time or have their driving privileges revoked. And while the punishments meted out to ordinary citizens who are arrested for DUI can be severe, commercial drivers who are issued DUIs while on the job could easily find their careers in jeopardy.
In regard to driving under the influence, those who operate trucks, buses or other vehicles that require a commercial driver’s license, must adhere to a higher standard than those who simply hold non-commercial licenses. In fact, commercial drivers can be convicted of DUI if their blood alcohol concentration is 0.04 percent, which is half that of non-commercial-related DUIs.
Moreover, if you receive a conviction for DUI while operating a commercial vehicle, your CDL could be disqualified for a duration of one to three years for your first offense. A subsequent DUI offense could disqualify your CDL for life.
If you are a commercial driver who has received a DUI while on the job, your very livelihood is likely hanging in the balance. As such, it is vital that you build as strong a defense as possible. An experienced Louisiana DUI attorney may be able to help.
By looking over the arrest record, the attorney may be able to determine if your rights were in any way violated. If there is evidence that the sobriety test or arrest procedures were in some way incorrectly handled, the attorney may be able to get the case dismissed.