Most adults are subject to the same traffic rules. People over the age of 21 are at risk of driving under the influence (DUI) charges if they can’t safely operate their vehicles or have an elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
In some cases, legal standards create an increased risk of DUI prosecution. Commercial drivers operating semi-trucks or buses are among those who are most at risk of DUI prosecution. Many of them have employers with zero-tolerance policies for impaired driving, meaning an arrest could put their jobs at risk. They are also subject to stricter regulations on the road, making the possibility of an arrest higher.
How do DUI rules differ for people operating commercial vehicles?
BAC limits are lower for commercial drivers
Most adults are vulnerable to DUI prosecution once their BAC reaches 0.08%. The average driver may notice physical symptoms of intoxication even before they reach that level. The limit for commercial drivers is noticeably lower.
Police officers can arrest those operating commercial vehicles if breath test results show a BAC of 0.04% or higher. Even those who don’t feel any effects of the alcohol they consumed could be at risk of a DUI charge.
Commercial drivers are also at risk of professional consequences for choices they make on their own time. They could become ineligible for their commercial driver’s license (CDL) after a DUI arrest that occurs while they are off the clock in their own vehicle.
Those who drive for a living may have more of a reason than the average motorist to fight back against pending DUI charges. Reviewing one’s case with a criminal defense attorney can help a professional driver fight DUI charges that could otherwise end their career.