St. Petersburg CDL DUI Lawyer

When you’re a commercial driver, protecting your CDL means protecting your job opportunities. That’s why it’s important to fight your charges with a St. Petersburg attorney when you’re arrested for a DUI.

Many Florida residents make their living as commercial drivers. You may spend your days making deliveries, some of which require long-haul drives across the country.

Unfortunately, now your commercial driver’s license (CDL) is in danger. If you’ve been accused of driving under the influence (DUI) as a commercial driver, get help from the lawyers at Hersem Law. Your St. Petersburg CDL DUI lawyer can help you defend your license and your career.

Legal Limits for CDL Drivers

First, keep in mind that you could be arrested for driving under the influence more quickly than other drivers. For example, if a driver without a CDL is pulled over, they may be arrested if their blood alcohol content, or BAC, is over 0.08 percent.

If you’re a commercial driver, your limit is much lower. Instead, you could be pulled over and arrested for a BAC of only 0.04 percent. That means that you’ll need far less alcohol in your system than the regular driver to be arrested for driving under the influence.

Because your BAC level can be so low and still lead to a conviction, it can be tough to recover and get your charges dropped. Make sure you talk to your St. Petersburg attorney for your options.

Penalties for a CDL DUI

When you’re accused of a DUI as someone with a CDL, you’ll need to know what penalties you’re facing before you act. These penalties can leave you struggling financially and without a job, so make sure you’re ready to defend yourself from your charges before your trial.

Because a DUI is a misdemeanor, you could possibly face jail time of up to a year, even if this is your first offense. You’ll also be facing fines, which may be worth thousands of dollars.

Worse, your CDL will be suspended for up to one year for a first-time CDL DUI. If this isn’t your first conviction, it’s especially important to dispute your drunk driving charges now. If you don’t, your license could be permanently revoked. That leaves you unable to work in a career that you may have had for some time. Because of this, it’s important that you defend yourself now, since your future is on the line.

Contact a CDL DUI Lawyer in St. Petersburg

If you’ve been accused of drinking and driving in St. Petersburg, you’re already dealing with a serious offense that could spell trouble for you. If you’re a commercial driver, your career may be on the line if you don’t defend yourself and seek to get the charges dropped.

That’s why it’s important to contact a lawyer from Hersem Law today, while you have a chance. Your attorney can review the details of your case and help you build a strong defense for your case before your trial.

If you’re not sure where to begin, set up a free strategy session with your St. Petersburg CDL DUI lawyer. We’ll take time to discuss your case before you sign anything so you know what you can expect from working with us. To begin, give us a call at 813-251-7291 or complete the following online form for more information.