If you get a DUI with a commercial Driver’s License in Arizona, you will be worried about what will happen next and the impact on the charges. Given how strict Arizona DUI laws are, it may mean that your license and job may be at stake. In this article, we explain what is likely to happen and how a DUI defense lawyer can help.
Can You Get A CDL With A DUI In Arizona?
Drivers with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Arizona ideally work within the transportation economy. If you have already had a DUI, you may wonder whether it is still possible to get a CDL. Luckily, people with prior DUI convictions can still obtain a CDL in Arizona once they complete a license suspension. This means that you can still get a commercial driving job, but you will be required to disclose that you have a DUI on your CDL and job application.
Can You Get A CDL With A DUI On Your Record
As explained earlier, you can still get a CDL in Arizona even if you have a DUI on your record. The major requirement for this is that you have already completed your license suspension. However, you can lose your CDL if you get a DUI in Arizona, depending on your unique circumstances. Specifically, a CDL can be permanently revoked for commercial drivers who have two or more DUI convictions on their record. The driver information is further shared with all other states, which means that you will not be able to obtain a CDL or work as a commercial driver in any other state if your CDL gets revoked in Arizona.
What Happens If You Get A DUI With A CDL
If you get a DUI with a commercial driver’s license in Arizona, the consequences may be more dire. The charge puts your job at stake. Under the Arizona DUI laws, the ordinary legal limit to drive is .08%. This means that you can be convicted of a DUI for operating a car with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .08%. If the level is below .08%, then the prosecutor will need to show that you were impaired when driving. However, since commercial drivers are expected to be more careful, their legal limit for driving a commercial vehicle in Arizona is .04%.
After getting a DUI with a CDL in Arizona, you are likely to face the following consequences:
- First-time CDL DUI offenders: Year-long suspension of your commercial driver’s license, even if the DUI charge was due to driving your personal vehicle, such as a car.
- Second and subsequent DUI offense: Your commercial driver’s license can be suspended for life even if the first DUI conviction happened before a driver obtained a CDL and the second one afterward.
- Potential Penalty: A commercial license DUI in Arizona is a Class 1 misdemeanor that may result in the loss of your commercial driver’s license for 90 days. This also means that the conviction will make it challenging for you to get insurance, get probation, as well as fines.
Schill Law Group Can Help with Your CDL DUI Case
If you are a commercial driver in Arizona facing DUI charges, it is advisable to retain a DUI attorney to help you defend your case. Since each DUI case may have multiple angles, the lawyer will help you present relevant evidence that can suppress the case and increase your chances of favorable outcomes. To get started, call our Schill Law Group lawyers at (480) 680-7432 for a free consultation and guidance for your Arizona CDL DUI charge.
