Traffic tickets for commercial drivers with commercial driver licenses (CDL) can carry more severe penalties than the same speeding ticket violations for non-commercial drivers because commercial drivers are generally considered to have an extra responsibility to traffic safety.

Commercial Drivers spend more time on the road than the average driver. Where the average person drives to work, a CDL holder drives for work. As such, state and federal enforcement agencies do their best to insure that the drivers who spend so much of their time on the road are the safest and most responsible of all drivers.

Traffic ticket lawyers understand what is at stake. If a non-commercial driver loses his privilege to drive he will likely be eligible for some version of a restricted use license to get to and from work. If a commercial driver loses his privilege to drive he will not be eligible to drive a commercial vehicle and thus won’t be able to work at all. Add to that the fact that licensing agencies are quicker to suspend or revoke a CDL than an ordinary driver license and it is evident just how serious speeding tickets and other moving violations can be for a commercial driver.

Even traffic tickets that do not result in a loss of your privilege to drive a commercial vehicle can be extremely harmful. Many commercial drivers are covered by an employer insurance policy and risk becoming a financial burden to their employers if they receive traffic tickets on their CDL or other CDL violations. Some employers have specific policies with respect to certain point totals or convictions for their commercial drivers.

If you are a commercial driver and have received a CDL traffic ticket, your first step should be to find out what is at stake and what you can do to avoid potential CDL problems. Take advantage of our offer to consult for free with a traffic ticket attorney who regularly assists people with CDL traffic tickets and other issues in your area.