Michigan CDL DUI Defense Lawyers

Facing a CDL DUI? Our Michigan DUI Lawyers Can Help You

A commercial driver’s license (CDL) is required if you’ll be operating any type of vehicle over a certain gross weight. These types of vehicles often include tow trucks, tractor trailers, buses, and more. If you’re in this industry and facing DUI charges, immediately speak with a CDL DUI attorney.

Have a CDL and facing DUI charges? Unhappy with your current CDL DUI attorney? Request a free consultation now.

The primary reason a person obtains a CDL is for employment purposes.

Since operating a tow truck, bus, or other heavy vehicle is a career choice, losing this license means losing your ability to adequately support yourself and your family, which can be devastating.

In 2005, the law covering suspension of a commercial driver’s license increased its penalties to include CDL suspension, even if your conviction involved only your personal vehicle.

This is a very stiff penalty, considering that your CDL will be automatically suspended if you’re convicted of any drinking and driving offense, which includes operating while impaired (OWI) in Michigan or refusing a breath test.

If this is your first DUI offense, your CDL will be suspended for one (1) year.

However, if this is your second or third DUI offense, your license will be revoked for a minimum of ten (10) years.

The Difference Between a Suspension and Revocation

The difference between a suspension and revocation is huge and worth mentioning.

A suspension means that after the year-long suspension is over, your commercial vehicle license will be automatically returned to you.

A revocation means that your CDL is taken away completely and the only way to get it back is to reapply and go through the entire application process, like you did the first time.

Remember, these penalties apply whether the offense is committed while driving your commercial vehicle or your personal vehicle.

This really raises a CDL holder’s responsibility when it comes to driving.

The license suspension is mandatory and you’ll want an experienced and aggressive CDL DUI attorney advocating on your behalf immediately to get the charges against you dismissed or reduced.

Have a CDL and facing DUI charges? Unhappy with your current CDL DUI attorney? Request a free consultation now.

Getting the Offense Reduced

Dealing with a drinking and driving offense is stressful enough, and adding the loss of your commercial vehicle license to the picture can be overwhelming.

Getting that drunk driving offense reduced to a non-drinking offense is crucial if you want to keep your commercial driver’s license and your livelihood.

Negotiating a plea to reckless or careless driving could mean the difference between maintaining your career and having to start all over.

Although receiving a reckless driving offense while using your commercial vehicle will still result in a one-year suspension of your CDL, if you were using your personal vehicle when the offense was committed, your CDL will only be suspended for 90 days.

This is something you will really want to fight for, especially if you rely on your CDL to make your living.

Your Charge Could Be Dismissed

In addition to negotiating a plea deal, it may be possible to get your charges dismissed.

Our Michigan OWI attorneys are highly trained in challenging the reliability of the breath, blood, and urine tests.

In fact, attorney Barton Morris is the only metro Detroit attorney to have completed the Axion Lab Blood Alcohol and Drug THC Testing Course. Benefit from his knowledge and skill by contacting our DUI lawyers in Michigan today.

Since an alcohol-related conviction can have such a large impact on a CDL holder’s ability to maintain a career, it’s absolutely necessary that you hire a DUI lawyer who will thoroughly investigate every possible defense to your charge.

The penalties given to CDL drivers for alcohol-related offenses can be severe, and navigating the legal process on your own could cause irreparable harm.

Call our DUI attorneys in Michigan today at (248) 220-3181 for the strongest DUI defense available to you in Michigan.