Truckers and other commercial drivers can face financial devastation if they receive a suspension or disqualification of their commercial driver’s license or CDL. Commercial vehicles are held to a higher standard than passenger vehicles. Here is what you need to know about disqualifications and suspensions of commercial licenses.
What Is a Disqualification?
Drivers often confuse a disqualification with a suspension. While similar, they are still two different penalties. With a disqualification, you are no longer allowed to drive a commercial motor vehicle or CMV. You will have to notify your employer after receiving a disqualification or suspension. Disqualifying offenses may include committing more than one serious traffic violation within three years. In these cases, the length of time your license is disqualified depends on how many violations you committed.
What Is a Suspension?
A suspension is more severe than a disqualification. If your license is suspended, you cannot operate a commercial vehicle, much like the disqualification. Also, you cannot operate a passenger vehicle either. With some violations, you may receive both a disqualification and a suspension. Normally, a suspension requires more serious offenses than a disqualification.
How do You Save Your License?
Both a suspension and disqualification can affect you financially. You cannot operate your commercial vehicle if you suffer either consequence. You could even lose your job and lose potential work in the future due to your driving record.
Serious traffic violations can result in serious consequences. These violations may include:
- Reckless driving
- Driving over 15 MPH above the speed limit
- Operating a commercial vehicle not covered by your CDL
- Erratic lane changes
License suspensions may depend on the state that you were driving in and what the laws in that state are. If you’ve received a traffic ticket, you do not have to pay it right away. If you pay for your ticket, this is an admission of guilt. Once you pay your ticket, you will receive points against your license and you could even lose your license, depending on the severity of the violation.
Instead of paying the fine, contact a CDL traffic attorney. He or she will be willing to consult with you about your case and to build a defense that may save your license.
When you are facing allegations of serious traffic violations, you need to approach the situation in a clear-headed way. Your best option to avoid a disqualification or suspension is to discuss your options with a legal advocate.
