Speeding Ticket (+16mph) - Career ending?

Lawyers wouldn’t take it because you can’t really get tickets changed to a lesser charge as easily as you could before. There are anti-masking rules for CDL holders now. In the eyes of insurance companies it doesn’t matter that you weren’t in a truck at the time.

 

What was the law change? Lots of jurisdiction won't let you plead to a non-moving violation, but you can usually plead to some lesser charge

Did you try FindLaw or any other service? I signed up for a prepaid legal service after getting a ticket once. They didn't cover that ticket but did refer me to one of their lawyers, who I then paid directly. I had a ticket in Allentown, Pa once for driving on a no-trucks street. That's disregarding a traffic control device and is just like a red light ticket. They wouldn't let me reduce it to a parking ticket, but did let me reduce it to operating without required equipment (e.g. mud flap). That's technically still a moving violation but no points, and no safety department later gave it a second look.

 

Why, as a commercial driver, would you want to speed and risk everything?

I own a '23 ZX6R that will beat every car on the road 0-100 and will outrun everything but the Corvettes and Veyrons of the world and I had a cop ask me why I go so slow. I told him this bike is to have fun on, not to lose my career on.

 

Schneider will probably hire you according to their website.

 

I think trucking insurance companies/trucking companies simply evaluate any speeding over 15 mph as a reckless driving event regardless of the particular state's charges. The state could call 15 mph over the speed limit a Greasy Chicken but in trucking it might as well be a reckless driving charge.

To the OP, if you are employed now, don't change companies. If your current company didn't fire you ten you are best to stay put and ride out the 3-ish year period until more companies can hire you. If you aren't in trucking now you can probably work at a few companies but they might not be very good and they will likely treat you poorly or ignore maintenance.

The time to recognize the seriousness of speeding tickets is before you get one. Thankfully you aren't giving many excuses and no excuse matters anyway. Some jurisdictions simply will not negotiate some tickets, especially for CDL infractions. If we recognize the world can be unfair we need to act in a way to prevent giving an easy win to the unfair forces in the world. With a CDL it's your job to know your speed and the speed limit at all times, even in your personal car. It's different when a surgeon accidentally slices open a patient versus when a homeowner accidentally slices open his hand while cleaning out the garage. It's not the end of the world in trucking, ou just now find yourself in a swamp if you want to drive CDL for a while.

 

My state in the early 2000s stopped allowing CDL holders go to state driving safety classes to reduce the seriousness of many moving violation tickets. I think this was part of what is called "anti-masking laws" which some used to keep a bad driving record from being discovered.

 

National Carriers might hire you.
National Carriers | The Elite Fleet
Requirements

• CDL A
• Minimum Age: 21 years
• Minimum Experience: 6 months. Ask about our student Program if you have a CDL A, but not enough experience
• DWI Convictions: Must be 5 years ago
• Moving Violations: Only 3 last 3 years
• Preventable Accidents: Only 3 last 3 years

 

I still like the idea of Traffic Ticket Lawyer California | Attorney For Traffic Court Tickets In Los Angeles Ca | Speeding, DUI & Accident Lawyers | The Ticket Clinic
They do every thing for You. They only need Your credit card number. Allp possibly via fon. I think then You don*t have this problem any more.
Good luck.
M.

 

Not sure a CA lawyer would have the heft here, I might be wrong. Love to see how it would turn out though!