ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
CDL & Commercial Driver Defense | Haskell & Dyer
Your CDL Is Your Paycheck. One Charge Can Put It on the Line.
Commercial drivers are held to a stricter standard than everyone else on the road. A single violation can mean a disqualification that ends your ability to earn a living. We fight to keep you working.
What Drivers Don't Realize
A CDL conviction cannot be hidden, and a regular ticket can still cost you.
Federal rules bar the usual fixes that protect ordinary drivers. CDL holders cannot mask a conviction with probation before judgment the way other drivers often can, and even a charge in your personal vehicle, off the clock, can disqualify your commercial license. The stakes are simply higher. So is the defense you need.
A Different Standard
Why CDL Cases Are Not Like Regular Cases
The law treats commercial drivers differently at almost every step. Two differences matter most.
Lower Limit
A .04 BAC, Not .08
While operating a commercial vehicle, the legal alcohol threshold is half the normal limit. A reading that would be under the line for an ordinary driver can still be a DUI for you.
Harsher Result
Disqualification, Not Just Suspension
A serious violation can disqualify your CDL for a year or more on a first offense, and a second serious violation can mean losing it for life. This is your career, not just your commute.
What's at Stake
More Than a Ticket. Your Livelihood.
For a commercial driver, the license and the job are the same thing. A conviction reaches all of it.
Your CDL
Disqualification that can run a year, or for life on a repeat
Your Job
Many carriers cannot keep a driver who loses commercial privileges
Your Record
CDL convictions are reported and cannot be quietly set aside
Your Future
A disqualification can follow you to every future driving job
What We Defend
Charges That Threaten a CDL
Many violations that are minor for an ordinary driver are serious for a commercial one. We handle the full range.
DUI / DWI in any vehicle
Driving a commercial vehicle at .04 or higher
Refusing a chemical test
Serious speeding & reckless driving
Following too closely
Improper lane changes
Railroad crossing violations
Leaving the scene / hit and run
Logbook & hours-of-service violations
Using a commercial vehicle in a felony
How We Protect Your CDL
We treat your license like the career it is, and we fight to keep you behind the wheel.
We Know the Federal Rules
CDL cases run on FMCSA standards that ordinary traffic lawyers may miss. We build the defense around those rules.
We Fight the Underlying Charge
The best way to protect a CDL is to beat or reduce the charge that threatens it. We attack the stop, the testing, and the evidence.
We Watch the Disqualification
We aim for outcomes that keep your commercial privileges intact, not just a deal that looks fine for a regular driver.
We Move Fast
License timelines move quickly, and so do we. The sooner you call, the more options stay open.
Common Questions
CDL Charges, Answered
I got a DUI in my personal car, off duty. Does it affect my CDL?
It can. Federal rules allow a DUI in your personal vehicle to trigger a commercial disqualification, even though you were not working or driving a commercial vehicle at the time. This is one of the biggest traps for CDL holders, and a reason to get advice right away.
Can I get probation before judgment to keep it off my CDL record?
Generally no. Federal rules prohibit masking a CDL conviction, which means the usual probation-before-judgment fix that helps ordinary drivers is not available the same way for commercial drivers. That makes fighting the underlying charge even more important.
What is the alcohol limit in a commercial vehicle?
While operating a commercial vehicle, the threshold is .04, half the .08 limit for ordinary drivers. A reading that would be legal for a regular driver can still be a DUI behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle.
How long can I lose my CDL?
A serious violation can disqualify a CDL for a year or more on a first offense, and a second serious violation can mean a lifetime disqualification. The exact period depends on the charge and your record, which is why an early, careful defense matters so much.
Will my employer find out?
CDL convictions are reported and show up on the records carriers check, and many drivers are required to notify their employer of certain violations. Because the conviction cannot be quietly set aside, the best protection is keeping it from happening in the first place.
Charged While Holding a CDL? Protect Your Career Now.
The rules are stricter, the penalties are harsher, and the clock is running. Tell us what happened and get an honest read on how to protect your license. The first conversation is free.
Need us after hours? Call our 24/7 line: 240-687-0179
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC
Fax: 301-627-5848
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