A DWI conviction carries with it harsh penalties for anyone, but for those who possess a CDL the penalties may be more unforgiving. Someone who has a CDL can be charged with a DWI if he or she has a BAC of .04 or above whereas for anyone else the legal limit is a .08 BAC. A CDL driver who registers a BAC below .04 may be issued an “out of service” notice which prohibits him or her from driving for a 24 hour period. The penalties for DWI with a CDL increase with each offense just like any other DWI; however the revocation period is longer.
For the 1st offense of DWI – CDL will be revoked for one year as well as any other fines, jail time, or substance abuse counseling that may apply.
2nd offense – CDL is likely to be revoked permanently; will be revoked for a minimum of 10 years in tandem with any other penalties
3rd offense – CDL is revoked permanently in addition to any other penalties
Those who possess a CDL may have more at stake if charged with DWI in North Carolina. If you have a CDL and are charged with DWI while you are not working you may still face having your CDL revoked. If you have a CDL and have been charged with DWI I would implore you to seek legal advice from an experienced attorney as soon as possible to ensure the best outcome for your case.
