Being convicted of a DWI with a Commercial Drivers License (CDL) may result in a one year suspension, or three years if you were transporting hazardous materials at the time. A DWI is a serious charge, and a conviction may result in a number of serious penalties or consequences, which may be extended or modified if a CDL or commercial vehicle was involved.

You may be convicted of DWI with a CDL for any of the following circumstances:

• Operating a commercial or noncommercial motor vehicle while intoxicated in a public place
  
  
• Leaving the scene of an accident involving a motor vehicle driven by you
  
  
• Using a motor vehicle during the commission of a felony
  
  
• Causing the death of another person through negligent or criminal operation of a motor vehicle OR operating a commercial motor vehicle with a suspended Commercial Drivers License

In the event you have been charged with a DWI with a CDL, it may be a good idea to consult professional legal counsel so that you can better understand the charges, consequences of a conviction, and the process surrounding any trial that occurs due to the charge.

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Additional Potential Penalties for DWI With a CDL

Depending on the circumstances of your charges, there may be additional penalties based on additional factors at the time your charges were placed. In the event these circumstances are met, your Commercial Drivers License may be suspended for one year. The circumstances are as follows:

• Refusal to submit to a breath or blood test to determine your alcohol concentration
  
  
• The results of your breath or blood test show an alcohol concentration of .04 or more
  OR
• A controlled substance or drug was present in your body while operating a commercial motor vehicle in a public place
  
  
• The results of your breath or blood test show an alcohol concentration of .08 or more
  OR
• A controlled substance or drug was present in your body while operating a motor vehicle in a public place
  
  

Severe Penalties Or Additional Charges

Again, depending on the circumstances of your DWI charge with a CDL, there could be more severe penalties and suspensions. A Commercial Drivers License DWI may include other, separate DWI charges if others were involved or impacted by any accident or result of driving while intoxicated.

In terms of more severe penalties related strictly to a Commercial Drivers License DWI, your CDL may be suspended for life under the following circumstances:

• You have been convicted two or more times of one of the offenses listed in Section 1 OR a combination of those offenses, arising from two or more separate incidents
  
  
• You use a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony involving manufacturing or distribution of controlled substances OR were convicted of any combination of two or more of the offenses listed in Section 1 and Section 2 arising from two or more separate incidents.

Multiple incidents that result in multiple charges or convictions for DWI (or DWI with a CDL) can result in stacking, or intensified penalties, suspensions, or fines. If you have been charged with a Commercial Drivers License DWI, or if you are on a second or subsequent charge, consulting with a professional DWI lawyer may help you better understand your case, charges, and potential penalties.