Being arrested for driving under the influence can have a significant impact on a person’s life, especially if they have a commercial driver’s license. When a person is confident in their right to get behind the wheel for a race, the consequences of a Pennsylvania DUI can be more serious than lengthy jail time and expensive fines.

Several occupations in Pennsylvania require workers to be licensed in order to perform the tasks and duties of their jobs. For example, truck drivers, ambulance drivers, and bus drivers must have some type of occupational license or commercial driver’s license.

Commercial drivers are prohibited from operating or being in physical control of a motor vehicle with alcohol, drugs or a combination of substances in their system, according to Pa. Cons. Statistics §1612. An arrest for doing so could mean the suspension or revocation of your driving privileges.

In Pennsylvania, drivers are considered intoxicated if they have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. However, the legal limit for commercial drivers is much lower, 0.04. If the driver’s BAC is between 0.04 and 0.159, it could be considered a “High Rate DUI.” Normal drivers face a “high rate DUI” between 0.1 and 0.16.

One instance where commercial drivers are equal to regular licensed drivers is that both have consented to a chemical test if pulled over for a DUI, in accordance with the state’s implied consent laws. This means that if a CDL holder is pulled over for a DUI, he or she is expected to consent to a blood, breath, or urine test to determine their level of intoxication.

Refusing to submit to a chemical test in Pennsylvania could mean being disqualified from operating a commercial vehicle. This could have a significant impact on a person’s career as well as their personal life. This could mean being fired or fired from your place of employment.

If a person who is a commercial driver is pulled over for drunk driving while off duty, the normal BAC requirement of 0.08 would apply. However, there could still be professional penalties for the offense, including a one-year CDL suspension, in addition to other criminal penalties.

The consequences of a commercial driving under the influence offense vary based on a variety of factors, including the driver’s criminal record and level of disability. For example, if a person is convicted of a first offense, the punishment may not be as severe as for a third offense.

A person arrested for a first commercial DUI with a blood alcohol concentration between .04 and less than 1.6 could face up to six months in jail, a fine of between $500 and $5,000, and a 12-month license suspension. However, if the person is arrested for a subsequent crime, the penalties may be more severe.

A second commercial DUI conviction could mean jail time of up to six months, a fine of between $750 and $5,000, and a 12-month license suspension. If the BAC was greater than 1.6, a person could face up to five years in jail, up to $10,000 in fines, and an 18-month driver’s license suspension.

Although it may seem impossible, there are ways to reinstate a CDL after it has been suspended for the first time. A driver must do the following:

• Pass the CDL knowledge and driving tests

• Pass a separate knowledge test to obtain a hazardous materials certification.

• Pay requalification fees

A second or subsequent commercial DUI could result in a lifetime disqualification from the driver’s CDL. However, in some cases, a driver could possibly be eligible for reinstatement after a 10-year period under certain strict conditions.