Commercial vehicle drivers can be facing a different situation than other motorists when accused of drunk driving. This is due to the special rules Missouri DUI law has in place when it comes to commercial vehicles.
For one, there are special rules regarding BAC limits. For most drivers here in Missouri, the BAC threshold that automatically triggers a DUI offense is 0.08. However, when a person is driving a commercial vehicle, he or she is subject to a lower limit. It is against the law for a person to drive a commercial vehicle in the state with a BAC of 0.04 or higher.
Also, while DUI convictions can have career impacts on many different types of drivers, such convictions can be particularly disruptive to the careers of commercial vehicle drivers. This is because, if a person is convicted of driving a commercial vehicle at or above a 0.04 BAC level, this triggers a one-year loss of authorization to drive a commercial vehicle.
This loss of commercial vehicle driving privileges is on top of the standard penalties for DUI, such as prison time, fines and license suspension. Also, violation of the commercial vehicle driver BAC limit puts two points on a person’s driving record.
So, a commercial vehicle drivers’ livelihood can be on the line when drunk driving charges are leveled against him or her here in Missouri. Skilled defense lawyers can advise such drivers on what they can do to protect their career and other interests when facing such charges.