Commercial DUI Attorney in Delaware County, PA Defending Clients’ CDL and Their Freedom in Delaware County, Montgomery County, Chester County, and Throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania
If you’re facing driving under the influence (DUI) charges with a commercial driver’s license (CDL), there’s a lot on the line. Not only can this charge potentially result in jail time, fines, and other criminal penalties, but it also directly impacts your livelihood as a commercial driver. It’s essential that you bring on a knowledgeable Delaware County CDL DUI lawyer to represent your interests and provide a dedicated legal defense throughout your case. You need to protect your career as well as your freedom and your record, and that requires skilled, strategic legal defense.
At The Law Offices of Joseph Lesniak, LLC, we understand the unique needs and concerns that our clients who drive for a living have when facing DUI charges. We’re prepared to fight for your future, drawing on the full extent of our 20+ years of experience to secure the most favorable resolution possible for your unique situation. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation, and find out the difference our firm can make in your legal matter.
DUI Charges and Commercial Drivers in Delaware County, PA
Truck drivers, bus drivers, and other commercial drivers rely on the CDL credential to qualify them for their careers—but DUI charges can put that special license at risk. Whether the incident that led to the charges against you occurred while you were on the clock or while driving your personal vehicle, you need to understand how Pennsylvania DUI laws apply to your situation and what options are available for your defense.
Under Section 3802 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 75, a commercial driver could face DUI charges for any of the following offenses:
- Operating your personal vehicle with a BAC level of 0.08% or above, or while otherwise being incapable of driving safely due to alcohol or drug consumption
- Operating a commercial vehicle with a BAC level of 0.04% or above
- Operating a school bus or school vehicle with a BAC level of 0.02% or above
- Operating a commercial or school vehicle after imbibing a sufficient amount of alcohol to render you incapable of driving safely, regardless of your BAC
- Operating a personal or commercial vehicle under the influence of a controlled substance
Pennsylvania law takes seriously the risks of impaired operation of large vehicles such as tractor-trailers and buses, subjecting the operators of these vehicles to a much lower BAC threshold compared to the average motorist.
Criminal Penalties for Commercial DUI Convictions
Don’t underestimate the severity of the DUI charge against you. Drivers of commercial vehicles are subject to particularly harsh sentences when convicted of DUI offenses, facing penalties that align with those imposed upon defendants with a high rate of blood alcohol content.
Even though your BAC may have been no more than 0.04%—an amount that would be considered legal if you were driving a personal vehicle instead of a commercial one—you’re facing penalties that are just as harsh as a driver would face if their BAC was well above the legal limit at up to 0.159%.
Imprisonment
Even a first DUI offense as a commercial driver can result in jail time, with a mandatory minimum of 48 consecutive hours. For a second offense, you’re facing a sentence of at least 30 days. A third such offense imposes a minimum jail term of 90 days, while a conviction of a fourth or subsequent offense will send you to prison for at least one year.
Fines
The fines arising out of commercial DUI charges can be steep. For a first-time offender, the fine can range from $500 to $5,000. A second offense results in a fine of at least $750 and potentially up to $5,000. For third and subsequent offenses, you’re facing a minimum of $1,500 in fines, and you could potentially be required to pay as much as $10,000 in fines.
Court-Ordered Education and Treatment
Other consequences of a commercial DUI include mandatory attendance at an approved alcohol highway safety school, court-ordered compliance with drug and alcohol treatment requirements, or both.
License Suspension
One of the biggest concerns commercial drivers have when charged with a DUI offense is how a license suspension will impact them. Not only can a DUI conviction result in suspension of your personal driver’s license, but it can also lead to a loss of your CDL.
A first offense can result in a one-year suspension of your CDL in Pennsylvania. A second conviction within 10 years is grounds for lifetime revocation of your CDL.
The Disastrous Career Impact of a CDL DUI
Unfortunately, the sentences a judge may impose are far from the only consequences you will face following a DUI conviction. For commercial drivers, the suspension of your CDL means losing your livelihood for a year.
Even after you have had your CDL reinstated, having a DUI on your record can make it difficult to get a job as a commercial driver. Prospective employers and their insurers may view you as a greater risk—even if you’ve completed your sentence, undergone alcohol education or treatment programs, and made significant changes in your life.
For truck drivers and other commercial drivers in Pennsylvania, the effects a DUI has on your career can last for years. You need to do everything in your power now to minimize the impact of a drunk driving charge on your future. That means retaining a skilled Delaware County CDL DUI lawyer from the start.
Defenses a Commercial DUI Attorney in Delaware County, PA, May Consider
It’s possible to fight back against a DUI charge or to strategically work out an alternative path to resolving this legal issue. To have the best opportunity for a favorable outcome, you need an experienced Delaware County CDL DUI lawyer who is dedicated to your defense and aware of the importance of protecting your commercial driving privileges.
We’ll explore all options for your defense, including:
- Challenging the legality of the traffic stop and seeking dismissal of the charges if possible
- Questioning the BAC and field testing procedures, including calibration of breathalyzers and appropriate officer training
- Analyzing the accuracy of test results
- Identifying any rights violations or improper procedures
- Filing motions to suppress any unlawfully or improperly obtained evidence against you
- Assessing your eligibility for the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Program, a pre-trial diversion program that can help you avoid a conviction
- Negotiating a favorable plea agreement with the prosecutor, if appropriate
- Presenting the strongest possible defense in court
- Introducing mitigating factors into plea negotiations or sentencing hearings to seek more lenient sentences
Every case is different, but we aim to secure the most favorable resolution possible for every client. For CDL holders worried about protecting their future career prospects, that means pursuing the outcome that best minimizes the impact of DUI charges on their records and driving privileges.
How The Law Offices of Joseph Lesniak, LLC, Can Help Protect Your Credentials and Your Career
Throughout every stage of the legal process, having knowledgeable counsel provides peace of mind and critical support. We’re here to advocate aggressively for you and pursue the most advantageous outcome possible through a proven approach that includes:
- Evaluating the full facts of your situation during a confidential initial consultation
- Investigating the case against you
- Gathering evidence that supports your defense
- Seeking to have improperly obtained evidence against you suppressed
- Developing a personalized legal strategy based on your goals and the specific facts of your case
- Implementing that strategy through a combination of aggressive advocacy, skillful negotiations, strategic legal maneuvers, and strong presentation of your case
When you need a DUI defense firm that’s genuinely dedicated to preserving your rights, your freedom, and your driving privileges, we’re here to provide comprehensive guidance and support.
Why Choose The Law Offices of Joseph Lesniak, LLC, as Your Delaware County CDL DUI Lawyer?
Trying to manage the legal process without dedicated representation is a serious mistake for a commercial driver whose livelihood depends on their driving privileges. For dedicated legal defense that prioritizes what matters to you, you need The Law Offices of Joseph Lesniak, LLC.
As a commercial DUI attorney in Delaware County, PA, our firm serves clients with a focus on getting results, a commitment to providing peace of mind throughout the legal process, and the development of personalized, effective defense strategies.
A Record of High-Quality Results That Protect Our Clients’ Futures
Our firm has a proven track record of securing favorable outcomes for our clients—from dismissals or reductions of charges to ARD Program acceptance, not-guilty trial verdicts, and effective advocacy for lenient sentences. We’re devoted to fighting for your rights and your freedom, and we’ve assisted thousands of clients in minimizing the consequences of criminal charges.
Compassionate Service That Provides Peace of Mind
With so much to worry about, you need a legal advocate on your side who will reassure you without downplaying your concerns. Our firm approaches every case with compassion, recognizing not only that everyone makes mistakes but also that facing DUI charges is incredibly stressful, particularly for a commercial driver.
Custom-Tailored Legal Strategies That Reflect Your Needs
As a commercial driver, your goals and priorities may differ from those of other defendants facing DUI charges. Our firm believes that your defense strategy should reflect your unique needs and circumstances, and we develop personalized approaches based on your individual situation.
Contact a Delaware County CDL DUI Lawyer at The Law Offices of Joseph Lesniak, LLC, Today for a Free Case Review
When you’re feeling helpless to address the criminal charges you’re facing or prevent them from impacting your family’s future, there’s one step you can take right now that will make a major difference in your case. Retain an experienced DUI defense attorney who knows the law, how prosecutors approach cases like yours, and how important it is to protect your record and CDL credential.
It costs nothing to discuss your defense with a knowledgeable attorney at our firm as part of a confidential initial consultation. For help from a commercial DUI attorney in Delaware County, PA, contact The Law Offices of Joseph Lesniak, LLC, online or call (484) 444-2348 today.
