If you are the holder of a commercial driver’s license, or CDL, and have been arrested for a DWI in Texas, you may be concerned over the legal repercussions you may be facing. In addition to various potential penalties, an arrest for driving while intoxicated in Texas can also result in the suspension or revocation of your commercial driver’s license. To avoid losing your CDL after a DWI arrest, contact a Texas criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
When you are charged with a DWI, your livelihood as the driver of commercial vehicles is at risk. Sophia Martinez Law is a Texas criminal defense law firm helping clients avoid serious legal penalties after a DWI arrest affects their commercial driver’s license. Former Assistant District Attorney Sophia C. Martinez can help you avoid losing your CDL by constructing a solid strategy and using her over 25 years of experience to assist with your defense case.
Penalties You May Face if Convicted of a DWI as a CDL Holder in Texas
While all motorists are trusted to operate their vehicles in a reasonably safe manner, commercial drivers are held to a higher standard than that of civilian motorists. While civilian drivers can be arrested for a DWI with a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of 0.08 percent can lead to a DWI arrest, CDL holders can be arrested for having a BAC of only 0.04 percent. This is because drivers of commercial vehicles often operate vehicles like semi-trucks or other larger motor vehicles that are a higher risk to other drivers if an accident occurs due to driver negligence.
If you were arrested for a DWI as a CDL holder in Texas, the penalties you may face as a result include the following:
- Costly fines
- Regular driver’s license suspension
- Jail time
- CDL disqualification temporarily or permanently
In Texas, a driver’s first conviction of an alcohol-related offense like a DWI, felony offense, or leaving the scene of an accident is punishable by CDL disqualification for at least one year. If the incident involved a commercial vehicle with a placarded for hazardous materials, then a first-time conviction will lead to a CDL disqualification period of a minimum of three years. If a commercial diver is charged with a second or subsequent offense, they may face a lifetime disqualification of their CDL. To avoid losing your CDL after a DWI arrest in Texas, get the help of a Texas criminal defense lawyer today.
Can You Ever Regain Your CDL After a Lifetime Disqualification in Texas?
If you have been arrested for a DWI on two or more occasions in Texas, then you will likely face the lifetime disqualification of your commercial driver’s license if you are convicted. However, even if your CDL is disqualified for life, the Texas Department of Safety may reinstate any CDL driver with a lifetime disqualification after ten years. If you have lost your CDL license to a lifetime disqualification, you may be able to build a strong defense case to have it reinstated with the help of a trusted criminal defense lawyer.
While you may be able to regain your ability to drive a commercial vehicle, having a DWI conviction on your arrest record can show up on employment background checks and may prevent potential employers from hiring you. That is why it is vital that you contact a Texas criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after a DWI conviction to potentially avoid losing your CDL.
Avoid Losing Your Texas CDL License After a DWI Arrest
To ensure your rights and interests are protected following a DWI arrest that could affect your Texas CDL, contact Former Assistant District Attorney Sophia C. Martinez to get help building your defense case. Attorney Sophia C. Martinez, a former prosecutor and defense attorney with over 25 years of experience, will work hard to help clients who have been charged with a DWI in Texas avoid the serious legal repercussions that may come if they are convicted.
To schedule a free evaluation with Attorney Sophia C. Martinez regarding your commercial driver’s license DWI defense case, contact Sophia Martinez Law today by completing our contact form or calling (210) 226-3000. Phone lines are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We also speak Spanish.