Commerical Drivers License DUI
A CDL DUI in Colorado can threaten far more than an ordinary driver’s license. Commercial drivers depend on their driving privileges for employment, income, health insurance, and long-term career stability, and a DUI-related arrest may trigger both the ordinary Colorado court and DMV consequences and a separate disqualification of the person’s commercial driving privileges. Federal CDL rules treat DUI, controlled-substance impairment, refusal, and driving a commercial motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater as major disqualifying offenses. Those consequences may apply even when the CDL holder was driving a personal, noncommercial vehicle at the time of the incident.
Colorado also imposes a lower administrative alcohol threshold for commercial vehicles than it does for ordinary vehicles. Under C.R.S. § 42-2-126, “excess BAC CDL” means driving a commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.04 or more at the time of driving or at any time afterward. By comparison, the ordinary DUI per se threshold is 0.08. A CDL holder may therefore face serious commercial-license consequences even when the chemical result is below the level normally associated with DUI per se in a passenger vehicle.
Colorado CDL DUI Defense Attorney
A Colorado CDL DUI case usually involves several overlapping legal proceedings. The driver may face a criminal charge for DUI, DUI per se, DWAI, or drug-impaired driving; an administrative action against ordinary driving privileges; and a separate federal and state disqualification from operating commercial motor vehicles. Winning or reducing one part of the case does not necessarily eliminate the others because Colorado’s court and DMV processes operate independently.
At the Law Office of Matthew A. Martin, P.C., we understand that commercial drivers cannot afford a surface-level defense. Matthew Martin examines the legality of the stop, the officer’s observations, blood or breath testing, field sobriety evidence, refusal allegations, the type of vehicle involved, whether hazardous materials were being transported, and whether the DMV and federal disqualification requirements have been applied correctly. We work to protect not only the client’s freedom and ordinary driving privileges, but also the CDL and career that may depend on the outcome.
If you or someone you love has been charged with DUI while holding a commercial driver’s license in Colorado, call (303) 725-0017 to schedule your free consultation today.
Overview of CDL DUI Charges in Denver, Colorado
- What Is a CDL DUI in Colorado?
- Alcohol Standards for Colorado Commercial Drivers
- Types of CDL DUI Cases
- Criminal Penalties for a Colorado CDL DUI
- CDL Disqualification Periods
- Ordinary License Revocation and the Separate CDL Consequences
- Express Consent and CDL Chemical-Test Refusal
- How a CDL DUI Can Affect Employment
- Defenses to Colorado CDL DUI Charges
- Role of a Colorado CDL DUI Defense Attorney
- Key Elements the Prosecution or DMV Must Establish
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Additional Resources
What Is a CDL DUI in Colorado?
“CDL DUI” is not a single standalone offense with one universal penalty. It is a general term used for alcohol- or drug-related driving allegations involving someone who holds a commercial driver’s license, is required to hold a CDL, or was operating a commercial motor vehicle. The criminal charge ordinarily arises under Colorado’s general DUI statute, C.R.S. § 42-4-1301, while the commercial disqualification consequences arise through Colorado’s Commercial Driver’s License Act, C.R.S. § 42-2-401 and the sections that follow, the administrative revocation statute in C.R.S. § 42-2-126, and federal regulations in 49 C.F.R. Part 383.
A commercial motor vehicle generally includes qualifying large vehicles used to transport passengers or property, including vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, certain passenger vehicles, and vehicles requiring hazardous-material placards. But the most important practical rule is that a CDL holder can suffer commercial disqualification for certain major offenses committed in a personal vehicle. The person does not avoid CDL consequences merely because the arrest happened while driving home in a private car rather than while operating a tractor-trailer.
Alcohol Standards for Colorado Commercial Drivers
BAC of 0.08 or Higher in Any Vehicle — A CDL holder may be prosecuted for DUI per se when driving with a BAC of 0.08 or more under the same Colorado law that applies to other motorists. If convicted, the person faces the ordinary criminal DUI penalties and a commercial disqualification because DUI is a major CDL offense. The commercial consequences can apply whether the person was operating a commercial truck or a personal vehicle.
BAC of 0.04 or Higher in a Commercial Motor Vehicle — Colorado defines excess BAC CDL as operating a commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.04 or more. This lower threshold reflects the heightened safety obligations placed on commercial drivers and can trigger disqualification of commercial driving privileges even when the BAC is below 0.08. The state’s administrative statute directs the DMV to impose the disqualification period required by 49 C.F.R. § 383.51.
Any Detectable Alcohol While Operating a Commercial Vehicle — Commercial drivers can also face an immediate out-of-service consequence for operating a commercial motor vehicle with alcohol in their system, even when the level does not reach 0.04. That type of action may not be the same as a criminal DUI conviction, but it can still interrupt work immediately and create employer and regulatory consequences. The distinction between an out-of-service order, an excess-BAC disqualification, and a criminal DUI charge must be carefully evaluated.
Drug or Controlled-Substance Impairment — A commercial driver may be disqualified for driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Colorado’s DUI law covers alcohol, one or more drugs, or a combination of alcohol and drugs, and legal possession of a prescription or marijuana does not automatically prevent prosecution if the state claims the substance impaired driving. Federal CDL rules classify driving under the influence of a controlled substance as a major disqualifying offense.
Types of CDL DUI Cases
CDL Holder Arrested in a Personal Vehicle — One of the most common misconceptions is that a DUI in a personal vehicle will not affect a CDL. Federal law specifically requires commercial disqualification for major offenses committed while operating a noncommercial motor vehicle when the person holds a CDL or commercial learner’s permit. A driver arrested after leaving a restaurant, sporting event, or family gathering in a personal car may therefore face the same career-threatening commercial disqualification as someone arrested in a truck.
DUI While Operating a Tractor-Trailer or Other CMV — A DUI allegation involving an actual commercial vehicle is often treated especially aggressively because of the vehicle’s size, weight, cargo, and potential danger to the public. The investigation may involve company dash cameras, electronic logging devices, dispatch communications, employer testing policies, inspection records, and federal carrier documents in addition to ordinary police evidence. The driver may also face immediate removal from service and employment consequences before the criminal case is resolved.
Excess BAC CDL Between 0.04 and 0.079 — A commercial driver with a BAC below 0.08 may not meet the ordinary DUI per se threshold, but a BAC of 0.04 or more while operating a commercial motor vehicle qualifies as excess BAC CDL under Colorado law. Depending on the remaining evidence, the state may still pursue DUI or DWAI based on alleged impairment while the DMV separately imposes commercial disqualification. The result is a case in which the criminal charge and the CDL action may rest on different legal standards.
CDL DUI Involving Hazardous Materials — The consequences become even more serious if the commercial vehicle was transporting hazardous materials requiring placards. Federal rules generally require a three-year commercial disqualification for a first major offense committed while transporting hazardous materials, rather than the ordinary one-year period. Colorado law also requires at least a three-year refusal revocation when the person was operating a commercial motor vehicle transporting hazardous materials.
CDL Drug DUI — Commercial drivers may be accused of impairment by marijuana, prescription drugs, illegal controlled substances, or combinations of substances. These cases often involve blood testing and officer interpretation rather than a simple breath result. A positive toxicology report does not always establish actual impairment at the time of driving, making timing, dosage, tolerance, medical history, and observed driving behavior especially important.
CDL Chemical-Test Refusal — Refusing to take or complete a required chemical test is itself a major CDL disqualifying event. Colorado also imposes ordinary-license revocation for refusal—one year for a first refusal, two years for a second, and three years for a third or subsequent refusal, with special rules for hazardous-material CMV cases. A refusal can therefore threaten both the ordinary license and the commercial privilege even if the driver is never convicted of DUI.
CDL DUI Causing Injury or Death — When an alleged DUI crash causes serious bodily injury or death, prosecutors may pursue vehicular assault, vehicular homicide, or other felony charges in addition to the CDL consequences. Federal commercial rules also identify causing a fatality through negligent operation of a commercial motor vehicle as a major disqualifying offense. These cases may permanently end a commercial driving career and expose the defendant to substantial prison time.
Criminal Penalties for a Colorado CDL DUI
Holding a CDL does not replace Colorado’s ordinary criminal DUI sentencing structure. A commercial driver convicted of DUI, DUI per se, or DWAI faces the same baseline court penalties as another defendant, while also facing separate commercial-license disqualification. That separation is important because the CDL penalty is not merely an alternative to jail, fines, probation, or treatment—it is imposed in addition to the criminal and ordinary DMV consequences.
First DUI or DUI Per Se — A first DUI or DUI per se conviction carries 5 days to 1 year in county jail, a fine of $600 to $1,000, 48 to 96 hours of useful public service, and up to 2 years of probation. If the defendant’s BAC was 0.20 or higher, the minimum jail term increases to 10 days, with a maximum of 1 year. The court may also require alcohol or drug evaluation, education, treatment, monitoring, and other probation conditions.
First DWAI — A first DWAI conviction carries 2 days to 180 days in county jail, a fine of $200 to $500, and 24 to 48 hours of useful public service. Although DWAI is a lesser offense than DUI, it can still create major CDL consequences because federal commercial rules consider state-law impaired-driving convictions and other major offenses when determining disqualification. A reduction from DUI to DWAI therefore must be evaluated carefully rather than assumed to protect the CDL.
Second DUI, DUI Per Se, or DWAI — A defendant with one qualifying prior conviction faces 10 consecutive days to 1 year in county jail, a fine of $600 to $1,500, 48 to 120 hours of useful public service, and at least 2 years of probation. Colorado limits the court’s ability to suspend the mandatory minimum jail period in repeat cases. For a CDL holder, a second major disqualifying event arising from a separate incident may also produce a lifetime commercial disqualification under federal law.
Third DUI, DUI Per Se, or DWAI — A defendant with two or more qualifying prior convictions generally faces 60 consecutive days to 1 year in county jail, a fine of $600 to $1,500, 48 to 120 hours of useful public service, and at least 2 years of probation. Third cases are prosecuted aggressively even when they remain misdemeanors. The defendant’s CDL may already be under long-term or lifetime disqualification depending on the nature and sequence of prior major offenses.
Felony DUI — DUI, DUI per se, and DWAI become class 4 felonies when the defendant has three or more qualifying prior convictions arising from separate criminal episodes, or certain qualifying vehicular assault or vehicular homicide convictions. A class 4 felony generally carries 2 to 6 years in prison, a fine of $2,000 to $500,000, and 3 years of mandatory parole. If the court grants probation, substantial jail, treatment, supervision, and public-service requirements still apply.
Additional Court Costs and Treatment Requirements — The financial burden extends well beyond the stated fine. A convicted driver may be responsible for alcohol or drug evaluation, education and therapy, probation fees, useful public service costs, monitoring, testing, towing, storage, SR-22 insurance, ignition interlock, reinstatement fees, and loss of income. For a professional driver, the lost wages from CDL disqualification may exceed every formal court cost combined.
CDL Disqualification Periods
First Major Offense — A first conviction for a major offense such as DUI, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, driving a commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of 0.04 or greater, or refusing a required test generally results in a commercial disqualification of at least 1 year. This applies to CDL holders convicted of qualifying offenses in either commercial or noncommercial vehicles.
First Major Offense While Transporting Hazardous Materials — If the first qualifying offense occurred while the driver was operating a commercial motor vehicle transporting hazardous materials requiring placarding, the commercial disqualification is generally at least 3 years. The greater period reflects the increased danger associated with alcohol or drug impairment while transporting hazardous cargo.
Second Major Offense — A second conviction or refusal arising from a separate incident involving a combination of the major offenses listed in 49 C.F.R. § 383.51 generally results in lifetime disqualification from operating a commercial motor vehicle. The prior offense may have occurred in either a commercial or personal vehicle where the federal table applies. This makes even a reduced or older prior case extremely important in evaluating present exposure.
Controlled-Substance Felony Using a Vehicle — Using a motor vehicle in the commission of a felony involving manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing a controlled substance results in a mandatory lifetime commercial disqualification. This category is treated more severely than ordinary DUI-related lifetime disqualification and generally does not carry the same potential for discretionary reduction.
No Commercial Hardship License — A driver who is disqualified from operating commercial motor vehicles generally cannot obtain a restricted, probationary, or hardship license authorizing commercial operation during the disqualification. Colorado law expressly states that a person subject to federal imminent-hazard disqualification or whose commercial or noncommercial privilege is under restraint is not eligible for a hardship privilege permitting CMV operation during that period. A person may sometimes regain limited ordinary driving privileges, but that is not the same as restoring the CDL.
Ordinary License Revocation and the Separate CDL Consequences
A CDL holder may lose both the ordinary privilege to drive and the commercial privilege to operate a CMV. Under C.R.S. § 42-2-126, a first administrative action for an ordinary BAC of 0.08 or more results in a 9-month revocation, a second results in 1 year, and a third or subsequent violation results in 2 years. The same statute separately directs the DMV to revoke commercial driving privileges for the period required by federal CDL regulations when the driver is involved in excess BAC 0.08, excess BAC CDL, or refusal.
This distinction can create a confusing result. A driver might qualify for early reinstatement of ordinary driving privileges through ignition interlock but remain completely barred from driving commercially. The interlock-restricted license applies to ordinary motor vehicles and does not override the federal CDL disqualification. Commercial drivers should therefore avoid assuming that ordinary reinstatement means they can lawfully return to work behind the wheel of a CMV.
Express Consent and CDL Chemical-Test Refusal
Colorado’s express consent law requires drivers to cooperate with chemical testing when an officer has the necessary legal grounds to believe the person drove under the influence or while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or both. For alcohol cases, the required test is generally an evidential breath or blood test—not the preliminary roadside breath test. A refusal to cooperate triggers administrative consequences regardless of whether the criminal case ultimately results in conviction.
For a first refusal, Colorado ordinarily imposes a 1-year revocation of the person’s ordinary driving privilege and designates the driver as a Persistent Drunk Driver. The driver may also be required to complete Level II alcohol and drug education and treatment and use ignition interlock for a minimum period after restoration. A second refusal carries 2 years, and a third or subsequent refusal carries 3 years; the period must be at least 3 years if the person was driving a CMV carrying hazardous materials.
Refusal also qualifies as a major commercial disqualifying event. That means refusing does not preserve the CDL merely by preventing the government from obtaining a test result. The refusal itself may produce a one-year or longer CDL disqualification and can be introduced by prosecutors as evidence in the criminal case.
How a CDL DUI Can Affect Employment
Immediate Removal From Commercial Driving — An employer cannot knowingly allow a disqualified driver to operate a commercial motor vehicle. Federal guidance states that a carrier must not permit commercial operation when it knows or reasonably should know that the driver is disqualified. That means employment action may begin as soon as the carrier learns of the disqualification rather than after the criminal case reaches trial.
Loss of Present Employment — Many carriers cannot retain a driver who is unavailable for commercial work for a year or longer. Even where the employer does not formally terminate the employee, reassignment to non-driving work may not be available. For owner-operators, disqualification may interrupt contracts, loan payments, insurance obligations, and the ability to keep a business operating.
Difficulty Obtaining Future CDL Work — DUI and refusal events become part of the driver’s record and may make future employment more difficult even after the formal disqualification ends. Carriers and their insurers may impose stricter standards than the minimum licensing rules. A driver who technically regains a CDL may still struggle to qualify under a company’s safety or insurance requirements.
Employer Reporting and Notification Duties — CDL holders have obligations to report certain convictions and licensing actions, and carriers have responsibilities to monitor commercial driver eligibility. Trying to conceal a DUI or disqualification may create additional employment and regulatory problems. Defense planning should therefore include advice about lawful reporting rather than focusing only on the courtroom.
Defenses to Colorado CDL DUI Charges
The Traffic Stop Was Unlawful — Police generally need reasonable suspicion to stop a vehicle. If the stop was based on an unsupported hunch, mistaken observation, or improper commercial enforcement action, defense counsel may seek suppression of evidence gathered afterward. An unlawful stop may affect both the criminal case and issues raised in the DMV proceeding.
The Driver Was Not Impaired — Odor, fatigue, nervousness, red eyes, or imperfect roadside performance do not automatically establish DUI or DWAI. Commercial drivers often work long and irregular hours, and fatigue or physical strain may mimic signs officers associate with intoxication. The defense must examine whether objective evidence actually supports impairment.
The BAC Result Was Below the Applicable Threshold — The legally relevant threshold depends on the vehicle and the charge. A BAC below 0.08 may defeat DUI per se but still create excess BAC CDL exposure if the person was operating a commercial motor vehicle and the result was 0.04 or greater. Conversely, if the person was driving a personal vehicle, the state cannot simply apply the 0.04 commercial threshold as though the person were operating a CMV.
The Vehicle Was Not a Commercial Motor Vehicle — Whether the vehicle legally qualified as a CMV may be disputed. Weight ratings, passenger capacity, hazardous-material requirements, vehicle use, and licensing classifications all matter. An incorrect CMV classification can affect which BAC standard and disqualification provisions apply.
Chemical Testing Was Unreliable — Breath and blood evidence may be challenged based on calibration, maintenance, operator error, sample handling, contamination, chain of custody, timing, laboratory methodology, or inaccurate interpretation. A reported number does not relieve the state of its obligation to establish that the instrument worked properly and the procedure was performed correctly.
The Alleged Refusal Was Not a True Refusal — A refusal allegation may arise from confusion, medical inability, language barriers, inadequate advisement, incomplete instructions, or an officer’s impatience. The defense may challenge whether the driver clearly refused or instead attempted to cooperate under difficult circumstances. This issue can be decisive because refusal carries both ordinary and commercial consequences.
Drug Test Results Do Not Prove Driving Impairment — The presence of marijuana, prescription medication, or another drug does not always establish that the substance impaired the driver at the relevant time. Toxicology must be evaluated alongside timing, dose, metabolism, tolerance, medical history, driving behavior, and officer observations. Commercial-driver cases are not exempt from the prosecution’s burden of proving actual impairment under the charged theory.
Role of a Colorado CDL DUI Defense Attorney
Defending the Criminal and Administrative Cases Together — A CDL DUI defense attorney must coordinate the criminal case, the DMV hearing, and the federal commercial disqualification issues from the beginning. Treating those matters separately can lead to a plea that appears acceptable in criminal court but destroys the client’s CDL career. Every proposed resolution must be evaluated for its commercial consequences.
Requesting the DMV Hearing Before the Deadline — The attorney can help ensure that the 7-day hearing deadline is met and that the available administrative issues are preserved. Missing the deadline can result in the driver losing an important opportunity to challenge the revocation and obtain early officer testimony. For a commercial driver, the hearing request is often one of the first urgent steps after arrest.
Examining Whether the Driver Was Operating a CMV — Vehicle classification affects the applicable BAC standard, the nature of the administrative action, and potential out-of-service consequences. Defense counsel reviews registration, gross vehicle weight rating, passenger capacity, cargo, placarding, and use of the vehicle rather than accepting the officer’s label without verification.
Challenging Blood, Breath, and Refusal Evidence — The attorney reviews evidential breath records, laboratory documentation, maintenance records, body-camera footage, express consent advisements, and officer reports. In refusal cases, the precise interaction between officer and driver may be central. Small procedural facts can carry enormous consequences when a CDL is at stake.
Protecting the Client’s Career During Negotiations — A plea reduction does not necessarily preserve commercial driving privileges. Federal law limits states’ ability to mask, defer, or alter qualifying convictions simply to avoid CDL disqualification. An attorney must understand which outcomes still count as major offenses and advise the client honestly about both criminal and career consequences.
Preparing for Trial When Necessary — If the prosecution will not offer a resolution that adequately accounts for weaknesses in the case, trial may be necessary. Defense counsel cross-examines officers, challenges laboratory evidence, presents alternate explanations for observed behavior, and requires the state to prove the exact DUI or DWAI theory beyond a reasonable doubt. The emotional pressure created by the client’s job risk cannot replace careful litigation.
Key Elements the Prosecution or DMV Must Establish
For a criminal DUI or DWAI conviction, the prosecution must prove that the defendant drove a vehicle and met the statutory definition of DUI, DUI per se, or DWAI. The fact that the defendant holds a CDL does not reduce the criminal burden of proof.
For an excess BAC CDL action, the state must establish that the driver operated a commercial motor vehicle and had a BAC of 0.04 or more at the legally relevant time. Colorado’s administrative statute defines this threshold separately from the ordinary 0.08 BAC standard.
For refusal, the state must establish the required grounds for chemical testing and that the driver refused to take, complete, or cooperate in completing the required test. For a hazardous-material enhancement, the state must also establish that the commercial vehicle was transporting qualifying hazardous materials.
For federal disqualification, the offense and circumstances must fall within the categories listed in 49 C.F.R. § 383.51. The specific disqualification period depends on whether the offense was a first or subsequent major violation, whether the driver was operating a CMV or non-CMV, and whether hazardous materials were being transported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I lose my CDL for a DUI in my personal vehicle?
Yes. Major CDL offenses can trigger commercial disqualification even when the CDL holder was driving a personal vehicle. A first qualifying offense generally produces at least a one-year disqualification.
What is the BAC limit for a commercial driver in Colorado?
A BAC of 0.04 or more while operating a commercial motor vehicle qualifies as excess BAC CDL under Colorado law. The ordinary DUI per se threshold of 0.08 still applies generally, but the lower commercial threshold can independently trigger CDL consequences.
Can I get a hardship CDL so I can keep working?
Generally, no. A restricted or interlock license may allow qualifying ordinary driving in some circumstances, but it does not authorize operation of a commercial motor vehicle during a CDL disqualification. Colorado law does not provide a commercial hardship license that overrides the federal disqualification.
How long is a first CDL DUI disqualification?
A first major offense generally causes at least a one-year CDL disqualification. If the offense occurred while transporting hazardous materials requiring placards, the period is generally at least three years.
What happens after a second CDL DUI or major offense?
A second major offense arising from a separate incident generally results in lifetime disqualification from operating commercial motor vehicles. The exact treatment should be reviewed against the driver’s complete record and the current federal rules.
Does a DWAI conviction affect a CDL?
It can. The result depends on the exact conviction, vehicle involved, administrative findings, and how the offense is treated under the applicable commercial-disqualification rules. A CDL holder should never accept a DWAI plea without first understanding its federal and state commercial consequences.
What if my BAC was between 0.04 and 0.079?
If you were driving a commercial motor vehicle, the DMV may pursue an excess BAC CDL action even though the result was below the ordinary 0.08 DUI per se threshold. The prosecution may also pursue DWAI or DUI based on other evidence of impairment.
Can refusal protect my CDL by preventing a high test result?
No. Refusal is itself a major disqualifying event and also causes ordinary-license revocation under Colorado law. A first refusal generally results in a one-year ordinary revocation, Persistent Drunk Driver designation, and separate commercial consequences.
Do I have to request a separate DMV hearing?
Yes. The DMV case is separate from criminal court, and a hearing generally must be requested within seven days under the applicable breath, refusal, or blood-result timeline. A dismissal in criminal court does not automatically reverse the administrative action.
Can I keep driving commercially until the criminal case is over?
That depends on the status of the license and administrative action. An out-of-service order or administrative disqualification may stop commercial driving before the criminal case is resolved. Continuing to drive commercially while disqualified can create additional criminal, regulatory, and employment consequences.
Additional Resources
Colorado Revised Statutes, Title 42 – Vehicles and Traffic — Title 42 contains Colorado’s DUI, express consent, administrative revocation, and Commercial Driver’s License Act provisions. Relevant sections include C.R.S. §§ 42-2-126, 42-2-401 through 42-2-405.5, 42-4-1301, 42-4-1301.1, and 42-4-1307.
Colorado DMV – The DUI Process — This official DMV resource explains that the administrative license case and criminal court case are separate proceedings with different timelines and consequences. It also provides guidance on hearings, reinstatement, treatment, and ignition interlock.
Colorado DMV – DUI Administrative Process — This page explains the seven-day hearing request rules, ordinary-license reinstatement requirements, Persistent Drunk Driver designation, SR-22 insurance, and ignition-interlock issues. These requirements are especially important to CDL holders because restoring ordinary privileges does not necessarily restore commercial privileges.
49 C.F.R. § 383.51 – Disqualification of Drivers — This federal regulation contains the major-offense disqualification table governing CDL holders. It addresses DUI, controlled-substance impairment, 0.04 CMV alcohol concentration, refusal, hazardous-material cases, and repeat major offenses.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration – Driver Disqualification Guidance — FMCSA explains the major offenses that require disqualification, including DUI, controlled-substance impairment, refusal, and operating a CMV with an alcohol concentration of 0.04 or greater. It also explains that employers cannot allow drivers to operate commercial vehicles while disqualified.
Finding a CDL DUI Defense Attorney in Colorado
A CDL DUI accusation can place a commercial driver’s freedom, license, employment, and entire career at risk at the same time. A first major offense may remove the driver from commercial work for at least one year, a hazardous-material case may result in at least three years of disqualification, and a second major offense may produce lifetime disqualification. These consequences can apply even when the arrest happened in a personal vehicle, making it essential to evaluate every criminal and administrative decision through the lens of the CDL rules.
At the Law Office of Matthew A. Martin, P.C., we defend commercial drivers facing DUI, DWAI, excess BAC CDL, drug DUI, refusal, and related charges throughout Colorado. We investigate the stop, testing, vehicle classification, DMV action, and federal disqualification consequences, and we fight to protect both the client’s legal rights and professional future.
If you are facing CDL DUI charges in Colorado, call (303) 725-0017 today to schedule your free consultation.