Anyone in Illinois can be arrested for a DUI or driving under the influence offense and they can be charged no matter the license classification that they have. Most Illinois drivers hold a D license. A D license allows drivers to drive trucks that are under a specific weight limit and others to drive passenger vehicles. The question that a regular driver who wants to gain a CDL normally has is, can you get a CDL with a DUI on your record, or are you banned permanently from obtaining a CDL in the future?
The answer is simple, yes! It is possible for you to get a CDL in Illinois even after you have been charged with a DUI on your D license. When you get charged with a DUI it does not mean that it is the end of your eligibility for a CDL classification. When you get charged for a DUI in Chicago there are several outcomes that you are likely to face.
They include; dismissal of your charges if you are found not guilty, your charges can be reduced, court supervision, and conditional discharge. The outcome of your case will determine when you will be able to obtain a CDL, but the actual charge is not supposed to disqualify you from obtaining a CDL. Contact our experienced CDL DUI defense attorney today for a free consultation!
BAC Limit For CDL Drivers
CDL drivers in Illinois are required to submit to tests that help determine their blood alcohol levels or blood alcohol concentration. The BAC limit for professional truck drivers in Illinois is 0.04% instead of the normal 0.08% for drivers driving a personal vehicle.
Even though the average citizen has a right to refuse to take a blood alcohol test any driver that drives with a CDL license regardless of whether they are in a private car or are at the time driving a commercial motor vehicle if they refuse to take a blood alcohol test and they submit tests that show their blood alcohol level above 0.04% they will be disqualified from driving a commercial vehicle for a period of 12 months.
However, regardless of the outcome of the blood alcohol content test if a driver is convicted of a BAC they will be disqualified from driving a commercial vehicle for a period of twelve months. If at the time of the DUI stop the CDL driver was transporting hazardous material may not be allowed to operate a commercial vehicle for a period of at least 3 years.
If a CDL driver has two subsequent offenses on their record they will be permanently disqualified from driving a commercial vehicle. The consequences of getting convicted do not only include having your driving license suspended you can end up losing your livelihood.
Can You Get a CDL With a Previous DUI on Your Record?
Even with a DUI on your record, you can still get your CDL if you have never gotten one. Even as this is the case it can be challenging to get a job with a commercial driving employer. Most commercial truck companies will not want to hire an individual that has been convicted of drunk driving or driving under the influence, particularly if the individual has been recently convicted. If convicted of a DUI, you should call an experienced Illinois DUI defense attorney today.
However, if you want a career in driving it should not discourage you. There are companies that will go through your criminal record and see if you have a clean record. They will go through your driving history for the past 3 years and hire you based on their finding.
In the case where you have a DUI on your driving record that is within the past 3 years bracket, chances are the company that you want to work for will not hire you. However, companies are different and there are some companies that will hire you after having drunk driving charges on your for after a period of one year. For you to be able to understand the regulations of the company you can speak to someone that is working in the management of the company.
You should keep in mind that you can still apply for a commercial driver's license once the license suspension is lifted after driving under influence of alcohol conviction. It is important for you to be conversant with the state’s governing laws as they will play a big role in the reinstatement or application of your CDL after a conviction.
As a result of drunken driving, you may have to pay high insurance premiums and insurance companies may need to get SR-22 insurance since it has higher insurance rates. Most DMV (department of motor vehicles) offices may require this liability insurance document as a high-risk insurance policy. It is a part of the process of reinstating your license.
How Long Do You Lose Your CDL For DUI?
As a first-time DUI offender in Illinois if a Commercial truck driver gets arrested, charged, and convicted they will face a license suspension of one year. They will get a 3-year license suspension if they drive a hazardous waste vehicle since it is considered a more serious offense.
For a second DUI offense, a CDL holder can get their CDL license permanently revoked. However, there are certain situations where a commercial driver in Illinois may be eligible to go through an alcohol awareness program so they can have their CDL license reinstated after the 10 years suspension period is over.
Can You Get a Suspended CDL Reinstated?
You should wait until you are eligible to re-qualify for a CDL after a disqualification so you can reinstate it. In Illinois Commercial license disqualifications range from a period of 60 days to a lifetime disqualification and it depends on your offense.
The Chicago DUI Defense legal team can help you to get your driver’s license reinstated after the disqualification period for your traffic violation is over and walk with you through the process of getting your commercial driver's license after a DUI conviction. The Chicago DUI Defense lawyer will help you understand your legal options and help you fast-track your driving career. Give our defense attorney a call!
