Can You Get a CDL with a DUI in Arizona? click for a free consultation

Posted on July 6, 2020 in Uncategorized

Obtaining and holding a commercial driver’s license (CDL) in Arizona can open the door to many employment opportunities in commercial trucking and transportation. But a DUI can jeopardize your ability to get or keep your CDL. 

In this blog post, we consider two questions:

• If you are considering applying for an Arizona CDL and have a conviction on your record for driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, will this prevent you from receiving it?
• If you have a CDL and are convicted of a DUI offense in Arizona, how will this affect your ability to keep your license?

If you have questions about the effect of an Arizona DUI conviction on your ability to gain employment, including working for a company that requires you to have a commercial driver’s license, call the Rosenstein Law Group at (480) 248-7666 or contact us online to speak with an Arizona DUI lawyer absolutely free.

A DUI Could Result in the Rejection of your Arizona CDL Application

If you have not yet applied for an Arizona CDL, a prior DUI conviction could limit your options. 

The application will probably require you to disclose a prior DUI, even if this DUI occurred in another state. 

• If you apply for a CDL while your regular license is suspended, your application will be rejected. 
• Even after you have completed the court-ordered license suspension, your application may still be rejected.

If your DUI occurred in another state, some CDL applicants may be tempted not to include this DUI when completing their CDL applications, but this is a mistake. Other states will share your DUI conviction with the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, and if it appears that you have concealed such a conviction, this can lead to the denial of your application.

Generally, if you are honest in your application and your personal driver’s license is not suspended because of a DUI, then a prior DUI on your record should not prevent you from applying for and receiving an Arizona CDL.

How Does a DUI Affect Your Current Arizona CDL?

Under Arizona law, if you are a CDL holder convicted of a DUI in Arizona, you will face at least a year suspension of your CDL even if you were driving your personal vehicle at the time. 

• This one-year suspension also applies if you decline to provide a breath, blood, or urine sample as required under ARS 28-1321.

If you were transporting hazardous materials that required placarding of the transport vehicle at the time of your first DUI while holding a CDL, the suspension can be for at least three years.

A second DUI offense will result in a lifetime disqualification of your CDL. 

Also, if you had one DUI on your record when you received your Arizona CDL, your first DUI after receiving your CDL will count as your second DUI conviction, and you will lose your CDL.

Fight Back Against DUI Charges and Protect Your Future

A DUI charge is a serious matter, even for your driving privilege with a regular driver’s license, but for a CDL driver, it can have a lifelong impact on your career. 

Because of the serious potential consequences, if you are facing a DUI charge as a CDL holder, you need to speak to an experienced DUI defense attorney at the Rosenstein Law Group to fight the charge. 

Call us at (480) 248-7666 to speak with an experienced Arizona DUI defense lawyer in a free case evaluation. Or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.