Baton Rouge CDL DUI Lawyer

A Baton Rouge CDL DUI lawyer understands the unique challenges that commercial drivers face when charged with driving under the influence under Louisiana laws. A DUI charge can jeopardize not only your job but also your entire career as a commercial driver, potentially leading to a lifetime disqualification of your commercial driver’s license. At The Law Offices of Ossie Brown, our experienced lawyer group provides skilled legal representation to protect your rights and fight against DUI charges. If you have been arrested, it’s crucial to act quickly to preserve your livelihood.

Contact a Baton Rouge criminal defense attorney by calling (225) 343-1111 for a free consultation, and let us help defend your future.

Baton Rouge CDL DUI Lawyer

Louisiana CDL DUI Laws

Louisiana CDL DUI laws under La. R.S. § 14:98.1 set stricter standards for CDL drivers, prohibiting driving under the influence of alcohol with a BAC of 0.04% or higher when operating a commercial vehicle, compared to 0.08% for non-commercial drivers. The Louisiana CDL manual highlights these rules to ensure commercial drivers safely operate commercial vehicles. CDL drivers must submit to chemical tests when suspected of drunk driving, as refusal can lead to CDL disqualification, reinforcing accountability and road safety for those with a commercial driver’s license.

can you get a CDL with a DUI louisiana

Can You Get a CDL With a DUI in Louisiana?

Yes, you can still be a CDL holder in Louisiana even if you have a DUI conviction on your driving record, but it may be more challenging. Being convicted of a DUI does not automatically disqualify you from becoming a commercial driver, but you must complete any court orders and satisfy any reinstatement requirements for your regular driver’s license before applying for a commercial driver’s license.

Do You Lose Your CDL if You Get a DUI in Louisiana?

Yes, you can lose your commercial driver’s license if you’re convicted of a DUI charge in Louisiana. After the first DUI conviction, a Louisiana CDL holder is subject to a year disqualification of their commercial driver’s license, and after a second DUI conviction, they’re subject to a lifetime disqualification.

CDL DUI Limit

Under Louisiana laws, CDL drivers are considered to be driving under the influence if they have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04% or higher, which is lower than the 0.08% threshold for non-commercial drivers.

Punishments for a DUI conviction are the same for commercial drivers regardless of whether they were driving under the influence in personal vehicles or while they operate commercial vehicles.

can you lose your CDL if you get a DUI in louisiana

Penalties for CDL DUI in Baton Rouge

A conviction for driving under the influence in a commercial vehicle carries harsh consequences under Louisiana laws. If you’ve been arrested, contact a Baton Rouge CDL DUI lawyer at our law firm for a free consultation.

Consequences of a DUI While Operating a Commercial Vehicle in Louisiana

In Louisiana, drunk driving while operating a commercial vehicle carries severe penalties, including CDL disqualification and commercial driver’s license suspension, depending on the number of prior offenses on the person’s driving record and the circumstances of the offense. 

The first conviction of DUI charges can result in a one year disqualification. The second conviction can result in a lifetime disqualification from operating a commercial vehicle.

Even if the first DUI arrest occurs in a personal vehicle, a conviction can result in a one-year disqualification and longer suspension or a lifetime disqualification for subsequent offenses. Being convicted of a DUI, regardless of the type of vehicle they were in when arrested, can impact their ability to maintain employment. 

Even minor offenses, like a speeding ticket in a personal vehicle with CDL in Baton Rouge, can jeopardize a driving record. If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, it’s essential to seek help from a skilled CDL DUI lawyer in Baton Rouge to protect your livelihood.

For the first DUI charge in Louisiana, CDL holders face serious consequences. These include benign out-of-service for 24 hours immediately following their arrest and a one-year disqualification of their commercial driver’s license (which is increased to a three-year disqualification if when CDL drivers transport hazardous materials).

In addition to CDL-specific penalties, drivers are also subject to standard DUI consequences, such as:

  • Fines up to $1,000
  • Jail time up to 6 months
  • Participation in a substance abuse program

These penalties apply even if the commercial driver’s license holder was intoxicated in a personal vehicle.

A suspended CDL can severely disrupt a driver’s career, as it prevents them from legally operating commercial vehicles. In Louisiana, suspensions can result from a DUI conviction in either a commercial or personal vehicle. A Baton Rouge suspended license attorney can help walk you through the process of how to reinstate your suspended CDL after a DUI in Louisiana, if possible.

Baton Rouge Commercial Driver DUI Defense Attorney

How Our Baton Rouge Commercial Driver DUI Defense Attorney Group Can Help

The Baton Rouge CDL DUI attorney team at The Law Offices of Ossie Brown works diligently to build a strong DUI defense immediately following the DUI arrest. Our attorneys can evaluate the evidence and assert common defenses, such as a lack of probable cause by law enforcement or the rising blood alcohol defense in Louisiana

Your CDL DUI attorney will negotiate with the prosecution to potentially have your DUI charge reduced to a lesser offense or even have your DUI charges dropped. If our attorney team can’t secure a favorable plea deal, we can defend you in court and ensure you receive the best possible outcome.

Defense Attorneys for CDL Drivers in Baton Rouge, LA

Below are some other related offenses a Baton Rouge CDL ticket lawyer can assist with.

CDL Speeding Ticket Defense

Speeding tickets can jeopardize a commercial driver’s career, especially if they lead to points on their license or CDL disqualification. If you need a speeding ticket lawyer in Baton Rouge, our CDL defense attorneys can help challenge the ticket, potentially reducing penalties or protecting your driving privileges.

Reckless driving charges as a CDL driver can have serious implications, particularly when transporting hazardous materials. A conviction can impact your driving record and lead to CDL disqualification, jeopardizing your career. A Baton Rouge reckless driving lawyer can pursue a plea deal for a lesser offense or provide experienced legal representation in court if negotiations fall through.

A marijuana DUI can be devastating for CDL holders, even if the alleged use occurred off-duty or in a legal state. If you’ve been accused of driving under the influence of marijuana, our Baton Rouge marijuana DUI lawyer group will fight to protect your rights, aiming to reduce or dismiss DUI charges where possible.

Boating DUI charges can have unexpected consequences for CDL holders, as alcohol-related charges may still impact your commercial driving privileges. Let a Baton Rouge boating DUI lawyer at our law firm work to defend you against these charges and protect your livelihood.

Even a minor drug possession charge can threaten your CDL license and your career, regardless of whether it occurred during the course of employment. Our Baton Rouge drug possession lawyers will advocate on your behalf, seeking to minimize the impact of these charges or have them dismissed entirely.

CDL lawyer Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge CDL DUI Defense Lawyer

If you’ve been charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol as a commercial vehicle driver in Louisiana, you need a DUI lawyer in Baton Rouge to defend your rights. At The Law Offices of Ossie Brown, our CDL DUI attorney team has helped many drivers, including out-of-state drivers, avoid the serious consequences of a CDL license DUI. 

Let us help you avoid a conviction and keep your job. Call (225) 343-1111 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a commercial DUI lawyer in Baton Rouge and learn how we can protect your legal rights.

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