Getting DWI with a CDL can have a big impact on your profession and your finances. That’s because if you have a commercial driver’s license, odds are that your source of income relies on your keeping that license in good standing. So when you get a DWI with a CDL, it can negatively affect your financial situation, which could then negatively impact every other part of your life.
That’s why it’s only natural to panic after getting a DWI with a CDL in your back pocket. What will happen to your CDL? How long do you have to wait to get your CDL after a DWI? Can you even get a CDL with a DWI in Texas? Is a DWI a felony in Texas? These are all common questions to ask after getting a DWI with CDL, so we’ve taken a few moments to answer them.
Can you get a CDL with a DWI in Texas?
Yep, it is possible to get your CDL with a DWI in your past. While you will have to wait until your suspension is complete, you will become CDL-eligible afterward. However, don’t start celebrating just yet. After you have your CDL, you still have to find employment.
Since many insurance companies will not insure commercial drivers with a recent DWI on their record, it is highly likely that you will be let go from your job after receiving the DWI. After your license is restored and you receive your CDL, you will need to hunt down a company that will hire you, despite the DWI.
While many companies are very open to hiring people who have been charged with a DWI, the majority of companies still require a specific waiting period. For example, most companies will want to wait at least two years after your last DWI. (And if this is the case, that means they want to wait two years since your license was restored (aka, three years since you were charged).
In other words, do everything within your power NOT to get a DWI on your record. It can take away your one source of income for quite some time.
How long do you have to wait to get a CDL after DWI?
As we mentioned earlier, as soon as your license is no longer suspended, you are eligible for a CDL. So then the question becomes, “How long will my license be suspended after a DWI?” To answer that question in more depth, check out everything you need to know about DWI Texas License Suspension and then take a look at a few Texas CDL DWI laws you may need to know.
What disqualifies you from getting a CDL?
There aren’t very many things that will disqualify you from getting a CDL after a DWI. However, if you’ve had some additional legal troubles in the past, you may need to worry. For example, if this is not your first rodeo with a DWI, you will probably be disqualified from getting a CDL. (For more information, take a look at our article, “How long does a DWI stay on your record?”)
Because of disqualifications (and the fact that a CDL might be essential to your ability to maintain a livelihood), it’s incredibly important to understand what’s what when you get a DWI. What are your options? Can you find a way around things? Can I possibly fight this DWI charge — and then win?
Recently received a DWI with a CDL? Call us ASAP.
With the right lawyer on your side, anything is possible, even beating a charge of DWI with a CDL. And if you’re on the lookout for the right DWI attorney in Houston, then certified Lawyer-Scientist Mark Thiessen should catch your eye. Mark is a 6-time Texas Super Lawyer, a triple board-certified criminal lawyer, and the only criminal lawyer to be named to the 2019 Top 100 Super Lawyers in all of Texas.
Here at Thiessen Law Firm, we do everything we can to make sure our clients come out at the other side of a DWI as untouched as they possibly can be. If you’ve received a DWI charge with a CDL, don’t hesitate — get help NOW. Call Thiessen Law firm at 713-864-9000 or contact us online to request your free consultation.
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- The Difference Between Murder, Manslaughter, and Intoxicated Manslaughter
- Gun Charge: First-Time Offender
- Child Custody Laws in Texas for Unmarried Parents
