Why a Traffic Ticket Means More for Commercial Drivers

If you’re a commercial driver in Oklahoma, you already know how important your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is to your career. But what many drivers don’t realize (until it’s too late) is that a traffic ticket carries far greater consequences for CDL holders than for those with a regular driver’s license.

Whether you’re behind the wheel of a semi-truck or a delivery van, even a minor traffic violation can threaten your job, income, and future. So, how exactly are CDL tickets different?

CDL Tickets Can Directly Affect Your Job

Unlike regular drivers, CDL holders are often required by their employer to maintain a clean driving record. One ticket, especially for a serious violation, can result in disciplinary action or even termination. Employers may see tickets as a liability risk, especially when insurance costs are involved.

This being said, CDL drivers are held to a higher standard of safety. As a result, certain violations carry much more severe penalties for commercial drivers than for non-commercial drivers.

These include:

• Speeding 15+ mph over the speed limit
• Improper lane changes
• Following too closely
• Texting or using a handheld device
• Driving without a valid commercial license
• Railroad crossing violations

 

These are considered “serious violations,” and accumulating only two in a three-year period can result in a 60-day license disqualification. Receiving more can mean even higher license penalties. Some violations, if severe enough, may result in your CDL being revoked for one year or more, even on a first offense. These can include:

• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Using a vehicle to commit a felony
• DUI or DWI
• Driving a commercial vehicle with a suspended license

No Forgiveness for Off-the-Clock Violations

One of the biggest differences for CDL holders is that even violations committed in a personal vehicle can affect your commercial driving record. For example, if you receive a speeding ticket on the weekend while driving your own car, it can still be reported to your commercial record and count against you professionally.

Masking CDL Violations is Not Allowed

Federal law prohibits courts from masking traffic violations for CDL holders, regardless of the vehicle being driven. Masking is an illegal workaround that tries to make a conviction “disappear,” which is not permitted for CDL holders (unlike a dismissal, which is a clean legal outcome with no conviction and no reporting, which is acceptable).

What Are Your Options if You’ve Received a Ticket as a CDL Holder?

The best thing you can do is fight the ticket, and do it quickly. At OK Traffic Ticket Defense, we understand how important your CDL is to your livelihood. We work to minimize the impact of tickets and/or have it dismissed entirely, depending on the situation.

If you are a CDL holder and have been cited for a traffic violation in Oklahoma, simply upload your ticket to our website or call us for a free consultation at (918) 392-9672.