An NH driver with a commercial driver’s license (CDL) faces harsh consequences if convicted of DWI. Commercial driver’s license holders may see their licenses suspended for up to one (1) year if they are convicted of driving a commercial motor vehicle, like a semi-truck or bus, or even a non-commercial vehicle, with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04 percent- one-half of the legal BAC limit for drivers of private passenger vehicles. If the driver is hauling hazardous materials at the time, the suspension may last up to three (3) years. Furthermore, a CDL holder who is convicted of DUI in New Hampshire two (2) or more times faces a ten (10) year to a lifetime loss of his or her CDL.
Most drivers who have CDLs need to keep that license in good standing so they can work and provide for themselves and their families. When a driver is arrested for or charged with drunk driving, the best chance of keeping his or her CDL lies in building an aggressive defense against the DUI charge.
At Tenn And Tenn, P.A., our knowledgeable NH DWI defense attorneys work hard to protect the rights of our clients. To find out how we can help you, call Tenn And Tenn, P.A. today at (888) 332-5855 for a free confidential telephone consultation.
Here is more information on NH DWI penalties for CDL holders:
265-A:23 Commercial Licensing; Penalties; Driving Under the Influence
Any person who drives a commercial motor vehicle with or without a valid commercial driver's license and commits one of the following offenses shall be punished as follows:
I. The commissioner shall suspend for at least one year, the commercial driver's license of a person who is found to have committed a first violation of driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater, or other controlled substances, notwithstanding RSA 265-A:11, I.
II. If the driver commits a violation of paragraph I while carrying hazardous materials, the suspension shall be for a period of 3 years.
III. The commissioner shall suspend for life, or a period of not less than 10 years, according to federal Department of Transportation regulations, the commercial driver's license of a person who is found to have committed a second violation of driving a commercial motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater, or other controlled substance, notwithstanding RSA 265-A:11, I.