Commercial DUI in New Jersey
Bergen County Criminal Defense Attorney – (201) 488-7707
Do you make a living being a commercial truck driver or operator of another commercial vehicle, like a courier van or even heavy construction equipment? If you are arrested and charged for driving while intoxicated (DWI), you could lose both your civilian driver’s license and your commercial driver’s license (CDL). Act fast to protect yourself, your livelihood, and your career by contacting our Bergen County DWI lawyer at Law Offices of Joseph R. Donahue, LLC.
Some reasons clients choose to work with our legal team are:
- 30 years of legal experience
- We have a 10.0 “Superb” Avvo rating
- We achieved an AV Preeminent® Rating by Martindale-Hubbell®
Find out what we can do to protect you. Schedule a FREE consultation today.
Reduced BAC Limits for Commercial Drivers
The average driver in New Jersey is considered illegally intoxicated if they are found to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08% or more. For those who hold a CDL, the limit is reduced down to just 0.04%. Many truckers with a low alcohol tolerance could enjoy one drink on their dinner break and get back to work, feeling sober but technically be illegally intoxicated. In addition to drinking responsibly, it is crucial to know how to defend yourself if you get a DWI, starting with being able to contest BAC results.
Three behaviors or mistakes that can make a BAC report inaccurate include:
- Indigestion: It has been found through various studies that simply burping or feeling heartburn after drinking can spike a person’s BAC level as it is recorded by a breathalyzer test. Police need to closely monitor a driver for 15 to 20 minutes before applying such a test to ensure that indigestion does not throw off the results. If they do not conduct this waiting period, the test could be unusable.
- Poor calibration: BAC testing devices are notorious for hiking results due to poor calibration. Machines need to be routinely maintained to get accurate readings of a person’s BAC level.
- Mishandled: If a blood sample is used to determine someone’s BAC, it needs to be handled precisely and with the highest laboratory standards. If not, it could become contaminated and unreliable.
Your Career Is On the Line – Defend It!
Drivers of commercial vehicles can be penalized with high fines and jail time for a DWI or DUI (driving under the influence) conviction, like most other drivers in New Jersey. The added penalty comes from losing their CDL and quite possibly losing their jobs. If you cannot come to work for an extended period of time – a first DUI offense will remove licenses for 3 to 12 months – there is nothing that says your employer needs to keep you on staff and wait for your return.
Take action by creating a legal defense with our Bergen County DWI attorney. Call (201) 488-7707 now.
