For commercial truck drivers in North Carolina and across the nation, a driver’s license is more than just a way to get from here to there — it’s their livelihood. Without a commercial driver’s license (CDL), a truck driver isn’t able to do their job, therefore causing their income to suffer along with their family’s well-being. It’s because of this fact that protecting one’s driving privileges is so important and the reason why seeking the help of a lawyer may be necessary when facing a traffic violation.
Under the federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act, commercial truck drivers can lose their CDL if they are convicted of certain types of traffic offenses, which can include:
- Operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a BAC of .04 or higher
- Operating a CMV while under the influence of drugs or a controlled substance
- Refusing to take an alcohol test
- Driving recklessly or negligently
- Driving at 15 mph or more over the speed limit
- Leaving the scene of an accident
- Using a cellphone while operating a CMV
- Driving without a CDL or the proper class of CDL
Depending on the offense, or because you ignored a traffic ticket, your CDL could be suspended for a period of time or revoked altogether. In some cases, a conviction can even cause your CDL to be disqualified for life.
Protect Your Driving Privileges To Protect Your Job
Though it is possible, in some cases, to petition the courts for limited driving privileges in North Carolina after a license suspension, you should never bank on this as a way of maintaining your ability to drive. The best way to protect your driving privileges is to address a traffic violation head-on with the help of a criminal defense attorney.
At Greenwood Law PLLC, our defense attorney has the right background to address traffic violations that could affect CDL eligibility. He has been well-taught by other litigators and has considerable experience handling criminal charges of all shapes and sizes. He knows the challenges you will face when talking to prosecutors and judges, and the steps that need to be taken to find the best possible outcome.
Contact My Law Firm Today
If you live in the Winston-Salem area or elsewhere in the Triad, and need help protecting your commercial driving privileges because of a traffic offense, then contact our law firm, Greenwood Law PLLC. With our help, the process of protecting your driving privileges can go more smoothly and favorably. Call our law office at 336-661-8788 to start your initial consultation today.