Commercial driving DUI regulations in Georgia

On Behalf of | Jan 25, 2019 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

Georgian drivers who possess a commercial driver’s license (CDL) have a lot of great job opportunities available to them. They also have a lot of responsibilities simply because of the position they hold. One such way that this manifests itself is in the harsh penalties and strict regulations commercial drivers face in regard to DUI-related charges.

FindLaw takes a look at the commercial DUI regulations as set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The first thing they focus on is which type of driver falls under the umbrella term “commercial driver”. This can be anyone from private motor carriers to federal government employees. Perhaps surprising to some, even people who assign drivers to operate vehicles and those who lease or own the vehicles being used must follow the FMCSA guidelines.

These guidelines, as further extrapolated by the Department of Motor Vehicles, includes a lower blood alcohol content (BAC) level before the legal limit is hit. For personal drivers, this limit is 0.08 percent. However, commercial drivers have a legal BAC limit of 0.04 percent. The amount of wiggle room is halved because a commercial driver is taking so many other lives – along with the reputation of their parent company – into their hands when they drive.

Drivers charged with a DUI could face harsh penalties if convicted as well. This includes the suspension or even revocation of one’s CDL, leading to job loss and an inability for the driver to support themselves. Due to this threat to livelihood, anyone facing such charges will want to treat them seriously.