Even a first-time drunk driving or drugged driving charge is a serious matter for anyone living in or passing through Russell and the surrounding Kentucky and West Virginia communities.
However, when the person accused drives professionally or as part of their job, the consequences of a DUI conviction get even more serious.
After a first DUI, those who have a commercial license will lose their commercial privileges for one year.
This is true even if the DUI happened in a private passenger vehicle. The penalty applies no matter what license suspension a driver receives from a court or a state agency.
If it is not their first DUI conviction, the person risks losing their commercial driving privileges permanently. Similar penalties apply for refusing to submit to a blood or breath test.
Moreover, a single DUI or other criminal traffic violation can skyrocket a professional driver’s insurance rates. It can be hard for a driver to stay in business or, if they are employed, on their company’ payroll, after even a single traffic violation.
Even non-criminal traffic violations can lead to serious consequences
Those who drive for a living or regularly as part of their jobs should also think twice before agreeing to just pay any traffic fine.
Even if these traffic violations are not criminal charges, they can still quickly lead to commercial drivers losing their ability to operate professionally. For example, two speeding tickets for going 15 miles per hour in three years can lead to a 60-day disqualification.
Other offenses that count toward disqualification include following too closely, reckless driving, texting and driving and improperly changing lanes.
The good news is that in most cases, a person must commit these violations in a commercial vehicle to face disqualification. However, insurance companies and employers pay attention to all traffic violations, not just the most serious ones.
Those who drive as part of their livelihood should review their legal options carefully before deciding what to do after receiving a traffic citation.