When you are accused of operating while intoxicated, it means that an officer believes that you were impaired by drugs or alcohol when behind the wheel of your vehicle. This accusation should be taken seriously for several reasons, one of which is that your job or career could be put at risk.
If you are a commercial driver, you could face the loss of your commercial license if you’re convicted of an OWI. There are also other penalties that could occur if you are found to be over the legal limit. Those penalties may include an out-of-service order that delays your work.
When can you receive an out-of-service order for a suspected OWI?
In Michigan, commercial drivers will immediately be placed into out-of-service status if they refuse to take a preliminary breath test. You may also be placed under this status if you have had alcohol to drink within four hours prior to driving your commercial vehicle. If you are caught drinking while driving or have a bodily alcohol content of .015% or higher, then you will also face this order.
This initial order will be in place for 24 hours.
Could you lose your license for an alcohol-related offense?
Yes, you could. Your commercial driver’s license will be suspended for a year if you refuse to submit to a chemical test or are convicted of an alcohol-related offense. For second or third offenses, you’ll lose your license for at least 10 years.
Commercial drivers need to defend themselves against accusations of driving drunk
It’s important for you to take steps to protect yourself if you’re accused of an OWI and are a commercial driver. The accusation itself may take you out of commission for at least a day, but if you are convicted, there is a high risk of losing your job and your career for good. It is difficult to find a job driving a commercial vehicle with a history of intoxicated driving, which is why it is worth fighting back. Winning your case will help you avoid losing your license and minimize the risk of losing your job.