The woman’s arrest sheds light on the fact that the law treats commercial drivers differently than ordinary motorists. In Connecticut, as well as here in Minnesota, those with commercial driver’s licenses are held to different standards, not only when it comes to the level of intoxication required to warrant a DWI conviction, but also when it comes to the kind of punishment handed down.
In Minnesota, ordinary drivers can be arrested and charged with DWI if they are found operating a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 or greater. For those with commercial driver’s licenses, this limit is cut in half, down to 0.04 percent, if driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the DWI. Additionally, penalties are dramatically steeper for those who drive for a living, something that can hit truck drivers, bus drivers and other commercial vehicle operators especially hard.
In Minnesota, anyone with a class A, B or C CDL will be disqualified for one year if he or she is convicted of a DWI. If the driver is transporting hazardous materials at the time of the arrest, a three-year disqualification for commercial driving will follow after conviction. Finally, any subsequent DWI will result in lifetime disqualification from commercial driving privileges, essentially stripping a truck driver of his livelihood.
Though it may seem counterintuitive, these rules apply even when a person holding a CDL is pulled over in their personal vehicle. Anyone who carries a class A, B or C CDL will suffer the same disqualifications even if the incident occurred in a passenger vehicle. Given how swift the punishment can be for those with commercial driver’s licenses, it is crucial that you seek out the advice of an experienced Minnesota DWI attorney as soon as possible to ensure the best defense possible.
Source: “Bus Driver Arrested for Drunk Driving Kids Had Past DUI Charge: Police,” by Louisa Moller, published at FoxCT.com.