Georgia residents with commercial drivers’ licenses should know what a privilege it is to have a license to drive a commercial motor vehicle. Drivers with CDLs typically have more knowledge, higher skill levels and more physical demands than drivers with standard driver’s licenses. Testing for a CDL is rigorous and strict. Once these drivers obtain their CDLs, they’re held to a higher standard than non-commercial drivers. For this reason, getting a CDL violation is a very big deal.
What are some of the serious issues that can result in a loss of CDL privileges?
There are many serious repercussions that come about as a result of getting a CDL violation. Drivers with CDLs who rack up serious traffic violations could get their licenses revoked. A “serious traffic violation” refers to incidents like speeding at least 50 miles per hour over the listed speed limit, reckless driving, distracted driving and any type of traffic violation that results in a serious accident. A driver with a CDL license who gets two serious traffic violations in three years will have their CDL revoked for 60 days. Three violations in three years results in the driver having their license revoked for a minimum of 120 days.
A major CDL violation includes things like refusing a chemical test, driving under the influence, using a commercial vehicle to commit a felony and causing a CMV-related fatality. A driver with a CDL can have their license revoked for a minimum of one year. This is true even if they were driving a non-commercial vehicle at the time of the incident. Some of these incidents could result in people having to deal with criminal law issues on top of losing their licenses.
What can a driver do after a CDL violation?
After a CDL violation, a driver needs to reach out for legal advice as soon as possible. A revoked CDL can prevent a CMV operator from earning a living. People in this predicament may benefit by working with attorneys who have experience with this type of law.
