Having a commercial driver’s license (CDL) comes with both privileges and responsibilities. If you have a CDL, it is likely that you earn a living driving a commercial vehicle or truck. And the last thing you want is to get a traffic violation ticket, which can most definitely impact your CDL and ultimately your financial livelihood.
This is why you need to immediately hire an aggressive attorney if you have gotten a ticket. With an experienced Central Valley CDL traffic ticket attorney on your side, you will have the best possible chance to get the ticket dismissed.
How CDLs Differ from Ordinary Licenses
As a driver, you will be required under the law to obtain a commercial driver’s license if you are engaged in any of the following:
- Driving a vehicle that weighs more than 26,001 lbs, excluding trailers
- Hauling a trailer that weighs over 10,000 lbs.
- Driving a vehicle designed to carry 16 or more passengers
- Transporting hazardous materials
Since the drivers of these types of vehicles require additional skill sets, it is more difficult to qualify for a CDL than an ordinary driver’s license. Moreover, as a CDL holder, you must obey stricter rules than the average driver. As such, commercial drivers are especially careful in choosing an attorney when faced with traffic violations.
Common Types of Traffic Tickets for Commercial Drivers with a CDL
If you were cited with a traffic violation and hold a commercial driver’s license, you need to take every step necessary to get the ticket dismissed. Having the right CDL traffic ticket attorney in Central Valley on your side can make all the difference. When choosing an attorney to handle your case, it is important to make sure that they have successfully defended clients from all kinds of CDL traffic tickets.
The more common CDL traffic tickets include:
- Commercial Vehicle Overweight
- Fail to Obey Sign or Signal
- Drive over Divided Highway (gore point)
- Follow Too Close, Tailgating
- Coasting in Neutral on a downgrade
- Out of Truck Lane
- Speed over 55 mph
- Stop Sign
- Fail to Comply with CHP Safety Regulation
Reasons Why Penalties for Traffic Violations are Harsher for Drivers with CDLs
Laws for commercial and truck drivers with commercial driver’s licenses are generally stricter than for ordinary drivers, and the penalties for violations harsher. The main reason for the stricter rules and penalties is that by the very nature of the vehicles they drive, commercial vehicles are more dangerous on the road.
Large trucks and buses are much heavier than passenger cars and can create far greater damage in the event of a crash. Similarly, commercial trucks may be carrying many individuals (e.g. bus passengers) to whom they owe a duty of care. CDL drivers may also be operating commercial vehicles that contain hazardous materials which pose a potential threat to others on the road. This greater risk presented by commercial vehicles makes it necessary for stricter laws, such as being restricted to a maximum of 55 mph pursuant to California’s law under 2206(a) CVC.
Call an Experienced Central Valley CDL Defense Attorney
For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with CDL traffic violation attorney Gurjit Srai, please call us at (209) 323-5558.