CDL & Trucking Violations Attorneys
Commercial Driver’s License Lawyers Serving Kane, Kendall & DeKalb Counties
Making the decision to get behind the wheel of any vehicle is a big responsibility. When you operate a car, you are making the decision that you are capable of driving well. At the very least, you are accepting that you are capable of driving well enough to not pose a danger to other drivers on the roads as well as pedestrians or bicyclists. When that turns out to be untrue, there are serious consequences to face. This is especially true if you happen to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and cause an accident. Should that happen, you will need the best representation possible to ensure that you do not lose your license and, by extension, your income and livelihood. At Van Der Snick Law Firm, we can help.
CDL – Commercial Driver’s License Violations
When it comes to traffic violations and their resulting punishments, it is important to understand that CDL holders will generally face more severe consequences than individuals carrying a standard operator’s license. Because CDL holders are expected to be model drivers due to the amount of time they spend on the road as well as the extra time they spent qualifying for their CDL in the first place, courts have much less tolerance for even small traffic violations. That means that even if you are facing a ticket for speeding, but did not cause an accident, you could still find yourself in significant trouble.
All of the above is to day that CDL holders’ traffic violations must be handled carefully in order to avoid excessive repercussions that place your livelihood at stake. The best outcome for this kind of issue is to avoid having a conviction on your driving record, especially as certain offenses could jeopardize your employment and even your CDL driving privileges, meaning that you could be permanently or temporarily disqualified from holding a CDL in the future. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to seek out an attorney that is experienced in this kind of case. The lawyers at Van Der Snick Law Firm, LTD for example, understand that there is a lot at stake for CDL holders. That is why we work hard to ensure that you do not lose your driving privileges over a mistake.
CDL Disqualification
Certain traffic violations, as mentioned briefly above, can render you disqualified from holding a CDL. This disqualification might be temporary or permanent, but in either case it will present a big problem for your future employment. Not only will insurance companies charge you more if you have excessive convictions on your record, employers themselves will be wary of hiring a driver that has a history of traffic offenses or CDL disqualification. There are a few different offenses that are considered more egregious than others.
In Illinois, a driver can be disqualified from driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) should they commit two serious traffic infractions within three consecutive years (within a three-year period). Additionally, a driver can be disqualified from driving a CMV if they commit three serious traffic infractions within the time span of three years, assuming that the convictions would ultimately result in the revocation or suspension of the CDL driver’s non-CMV privileges. Even if you are not driving a CMV, in other words, you can lose your CDL and CMV driving privileges if you commit serious traffic infractions that would place your standard operator’s license in jeopardy.
Serious CDL traffic infractions include the following:
- Driving while intoxicated via a controlled substance
- Driving while intoxicated via alcohol
- Refusing to submit to testing at a roadside check
- Fleeing an accident scene that involved a CMV
- Using the CMV or regular vehicle to carry out a felony
- Using the CMV or regular vehicle to carry out a felony that includes the manufacture, dispensing and/or distribution controlled substances
- Reckless driving
- Speeding by at least 15 mph above the speed limit
- Improper passing
- Improper lane changing
- Using a cell phone or texting while driving
- Following too closely
- Having a BAC of .04 or above while driving a CMV
As you can see, there are a great many infractions that can result in the suspension or complete loss of your CDL. Should you be convicted of any of these, you could face a lifetime disqualification from holding a CDL. That means that you would find yourself needing to find an entirely new career – one that doesn’t involve any kind of driving as an official duty, because employers will most likely not hire someone who has had their CDL permanently disqualified.
Contact An Experienced CDL Attorney Today For Help!
When you find yourself facing dire consequences from traffic violations, contact Van Der Snick Law Firm, LTD. Our attorneys understand how the law works as well as how we can help ensure that your CDL remains valid. Contact us today for more information!