If you’re pulled over by California law enforcement while at the wheel of a commercial vehicle, and you’re accused of driving under the influence, we encourage you to get in touch with a Westminster commercial DUI lawyer as soon as possible. Commercial DUI charges can permanently impact your job prospects. You need allies to protect your future.
Fortunately, Los Angeles DUI Lawyer is here to help. Our professional network includes Westminster DUI lawyers who are ready to help you challenge the charges brought against you. That support can protect you from the loss of your license, any impacts on your income, jail time, and significant fines.
The legal professionals in our network are proud to lend their support to your defense and come to you with decades of experience. The sooner you get in touch, the sooner a criminal defense lawyer can take your case.
When Can You Face Commercial DUI Charges in Westminster?
You may face accusations of driving under the influence if California police officers believe that you’re driving erratically or grossly violating state roadway laws. Officers have the right to request that you participate in field tests, breathalyzer tests, and/or blood tests upon pulling you over, which may allow them to charge you with driving while intoxicated.
Commercial drivers are held to a higher standard on the road and do not benefit from the leniency of California’s driving laws for private motorists. Where private motorists may operate a vehicle with less than a 0.08% blood alcohol content (BAC), commercial drivers may not have a BAC that exceeds 0.04%.
This means that commercial drivers who are pulled over and put through blood alcohol tests may find themselves facing DUI charges when a private motorist may not have. Unfortunately, unchallenged commercial DUI charges can see those drivers put their careers at risk while also risking jail time and considerable fines.
What Are the Consequences for Commercial DUI Charges?
The consequences for a commercial DUI will vary based on the circumstances that led to the charges, as well as the driver’s criminal history. Drivers who’ve never been accused of a DUI before and who do not have a criminal history may face reduced charges, whereas drivers with previous convictions may see their fines and jail time increased.
That said, even a first-time DUI offense can have a permanent impact on a person’s ability to operate a commercial vehicle in a professional setting. Unchallenged commercial DUI charges can see drivers face:
- The immediate suspension of their commercial driver’s license (CDL)
- The suspension of your personal driving license
- Mandatory alcohol education classes
- Termination from their place of employment
- Increased insurance premiums
- Mandatory ignition interlock devices on your private and commercial vehicles
- Difficulty securing driving employment in the future
- Fines
- Jail time
If you’re accused of a commercial DUI after an accident, or if your alleged misconduct resulted in someone else’s injury or death, the state has the right to level felony charges against you. These circumstances may also see the state revoke your CDL outright.
When Should You Contact a Westminster Commercial DUI Lawyer?
If you’re accused of driving under the influence while operating a commercial vehicle, you can invoke your right to an attorney as well as your right to remain silent. Doing so will allow you to contact a defense attorney who can protect you from officers’ attempts to misrepresent your arrest or pressure you into making a statement about your circumstances.
The sooner you can contact a criminal defense lawyer, the better. Fortunately, Los Angeles DUI Lawyer can put you in touch with a commercial DUI attorney in Westminster within hours of your arrest. The attorneys in our professional network can go on to offer you:
- Representation during a DMV safety administration hearing, which may allow you to preserve your CDL throughout your criminal trial and prevent the DMV from independently suspending or revoking your license
- Representation in criminal court, which can make it easier for you to explore defenses against your DUI accusations
- Legal advice regarding the pros and cons of a plea deal or alternatives to your proposed sentencing.
- Support during conversations with your employer and insurance company, which may make it easier for you to keep your job and reduce an unnecessary spike in your premiums.
How to Defend Against Commercial DUI Charges
Building a defense against the commercial DUI charges brought against you will require an attorney to assess the specific circumstances that led to your arrest. You can trust the Westminster, CA, commercial DUI attorneys in our professional network to conduct an investigation of your arrest and bring forward evidence to:
- Challenge any bias that may have led to your arrest.
- Draw the results of chemical tests, including breath results or blood samples, into question.
- Address alternative factors that may have led officers to misinterpret an assessment of your BAC, including medical conditions or prescriptions that you’re using.
If you want to explore your right to a plea deal, the legal professionals in our network can negotiate on your behalf and prevent the prosecution from taking advantage of your stress and confusion. Your attorney will never accept a plea deal without consulting with you first.
You Can Start Working With a Westminster Commercial DUI Lawyer Today
You do not have to plead guilty if you’re accused of driving a commercial vehicle under the influence in Westminster. Commercial DUI attorneys can come to your defense and challenge the charges brought against you. That support can protect your right to retain your CDL and keep your job.
Los Angeles DUI Lawyer wants to put you in touch with a commercial DUI lawyer who can represent your best interests and prevent you from serving undue jail time or paying undue fees. The sooner you can get in touch with legal representatives, the sooner the attorneys in our network can cultivate a strategy that puts your right to continue working first.
Get in touch with Los Angeles DUI Lawyer today to connect with experienced Westminster criminal defense lawyers.
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