Utility Lineman with CDL gets DUI . Help

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Moosetek is right. I hope you stop drinking and turn your life around. Sounds like you had a great job

 

Actually, don't have to stop drinking.

Just don't Drive while Under the Influence.

 

I’m not mad at that. I think that should be the penalty everywhere for every license holder CDL or not. If you screw up the 2nd time it should be lifetime ban always.

 

Your regular license is your primary license and is regulated by the issuing state.

The commercial endorsement. Is a second license. Regulated by the feds.

To put it in perspective. We carry 2 licenses. Combined in to one.

Me, personally. Think the fed over reaches. Considering the first was non cdl and happened 17 years earlier.

It's like the fmcsa BS. When it started. It went back 3 years prior. I had a trailer axle overweight 2.5 years prior to the program start. Fmcsa wasn't even a talk back then. It went on my record for 6 months. My first ding. For a program that wasn't even being considered when it happened.

 

Yeah, man, the time to actually DO something about it was when you first got the DWI. I'd postulate that your attorney was remiss in informing you of the CDL consequences. A lot of very marginal attorneys flock to the DWI defense field for quick, easy money. Chances are, he didn't do his "due diligence". Sounds like you are screwed. You may have a case for a lawsuit against your attorney.....

 

No, the feds DO NOT regulate at the license level, it is left up to the states. The commercial portion is an enhancement of the foundation license. The feds set the rules, the states ONLY and regulate the license.

 

Thank you for repeating exactly what I said.

 

This case sounds like a fellow standing on the gallows with the rope around his neck, asking if anyone knows how to get out of this predicament.

 

There are Federal and state guidelines for obtaining and maintaining a CDL. Individual states can set their standards higher than the Feds do on some things, but they cannot set them lower. At least, not for interstate non-excepted.

Regardless, once you are convicted or plead guilty to the DUI, any wiggle room you may have had is gone. You are now subject to Federal and state guidelines for a DUI conviction. The time to do something is after you're charged but before you're found or plead guilty. The OP should consult an attorney to see if there's anything their state will let them do to remove the DUI, but I seriously doubt there is at this point.