Getting charged with DUI in Virginia may affect your life in many ways including your career. A DUI may require you to take time away from work to address your charges and depending on your job, a DUI charge may compromise your reputation and your employer’s trust in you.
If you drive a commercial vehicle and get a DUI, the side effects of your charge may linger for some time. Your understanding of the impact of your DUI on your CDL licensure may prepare you for the road ahead and help you identify what you need to do to regain the trust and confidence of your employer.
CDL suspension and revocation
According to platinumdrivers.com, your CDL license may suffer a hit even if your DUI happened in your personal vehicle. This is because your job depends on you to safely operate a vehicle and irresponsible behavior of any kind, no matter the circumstances, is grounds for license removal. The penalty for getting a DUI while driving your personal vehicle is a suspension lasting 90 days.
Getting a DUI while driving a fleet vehicle may result in the suspension of your license for one year if it is your first offense, and a revocation up to 10 years if it is a repeat offense. Revocation of your license requires you to complete the entire application process again and follow the initial protocol to acquire a CDL license whereas a suspended license is immediately returned to you following the suspension period.
Meeting safety requirements
The sooner you understand what requirements will allow you to resume the use of your CDL license, you may begin working toward reinstatement with full confidence that you will not miss any critical details. Your proactive and responsible approach to getting your license back and committing to higher standards of safety and personal conduct may aid you in regaining the trust of your employer.
If you would like to learn more about overcoming a DUI charge, please visit our webpage.