People get arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) offenses every day in Mississippi. Most of them are people driving their own vehicles who make a mistake. Occasionally, the person arrested on DUI charges is a professional driver.
Whether they are in their own vehicles or in commercial vehicles, professionals with commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) have more at risk when accused of misconduct in traffic. The standard DUI penalties in Mississippi include fines, incarceration and driver’s license suspension. Those penalties can be a serious concern for those who drive professionally. They may also have a greater risk of prosecution due to different rules.
How are DUI rules different for commercial drivers?
Their alcohol limit is lower
One of the reasons commercial drivers are at elevated risk of a DUI is the lower standard for prosecution. Most adults who are old enough to legally drink only have to worry about a DUI arrest when their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) reaches 0.08%.
For someone in control of a commercial vehicle like a semi-truck, the limit that applies is half the standard limit. A driver only needs to have a BAC of 0.04% for a police officer to arrest them for a DUI when they are in control of a commercial vehicle. One or two drinks could be enough to reach that point depending on the type of beverage and someone’s alcohol tolerance. People who feel no significant impairment whatsoever could be at risk of DUI charges because of that lower limit.
Personal mistakes can affect professional options
The other serious concern for someone with a CDL is the risk of license suspension. To legally operate a semi-truck or other commercial vehicle, a driver needs a valid CDL. Drivers with a CDL become ineligible for commercial driving for a year after a first DUI conviction. That penalty is in addition to the suspension of their standard driver’s license. Even if the DUI offense occurred on someone’s own time in their personal vehicle, they likely cannot continue working after a guilty plea or conviction.
Someone who drives for a living has more reason than the average person to assertively defend against Mississippi DUI charges. Understanding the ways in which the rules are different for commercial drivers can help people find the courage necessary to fight the allegations they face.
