How a Driving Offense Effects a CDL Holder vs Regular License Holder

Interviewer: So when you have a CDL are you, well, we’ll talk about driving offenses first of all. When a person with a regular drivers license speeds, blows a stop sign, or does any of these infractions. What happens to them versus a person with a CDL?

Dale: The CDL holder has to worry about not only his insurance but his employer’s insurance, and his employer’s policies. The employers like to see a pristine record, because they get premium insurance rates as a result. So therefore, what happens in your private automobile; even though it might not be held against your CDL can certainly affect your ability to get a job as a commercial driver.

Interviewer: Sounds like CDL holders have quite a bit more at stake, even for a routine traffic infraction but certainly for DUI, OVI right?

Dale: Yes, and that’s a private vehicle. The limit for driving a commercial vehicle the blood alcohol concentration could be no greater than .04.

Interviewer: Let me back up for a second, you said a private vehicle. So a CDL holder, even when they’re in their own regular car, are they subject to more intense scrutiny and problems?

Dale: Absolutely. For traffic violations and for OVI violations.

Interviewer: So if I drive a truck, and I’m out with my family, driving the family car, and I fail to yield or fail to obey a red light and I get cited. That will affect my commercial driver’s license?

Dale: Absolutely, yes.

Interviewer: And then what we talked about with DUI, OVI, and same thing it’ll affect your commercial driver’s license as well, right?

Dale: If you have an OVI, yes it affects your commercial driver’s license. As I say, for the first one you’ll get a 1 year disqualification, doesn’t matter if you’re in a private vehicle or in a commercial vehicle. The second one is a lifetime disqualification. Again, it makes no difference if you’re in a private vehicle or commercial vehicle.

Interviewer: What about for the blood the alcohol level that necessarily gets you in trouble? Does that matter if it’s a private vehicle or a commercial vehicle?

Dale: .08 is the limit on a private vehicle, .04 if you’re driving a commercial vehicle. Now remember, even if you test under .08 they can still charge you with driving while impaired. It just makes it more difficult for the prosecution to prove.