In Florida, CDL holders can earn more than $70,000 per year driving a semi-truck. Unlike other drivers on the road, your license helps you feed yourself and your family, making it crucial to uphold a squeaky-clean driving record.
However, did you know that even the most minor traffic violations can result in you losing your license? And the more tickets you rack up, the longer it will take to get your CDL back.
That’s why it’s crucial to understand the most common traffic tickets CDL drivers face and why you should always call a lawyer to prevent adding a conviction to your record. Read on to learn more.
Speeding
Speeding tickets may not be a big deal if you are in a regular vehicle. But when you are towing a lot of weight, your commercial vehicle needs more time to slow down and come to a safe stop.
Failure to comply with the posted speed limit can earn you fines or even get your CDL taken away. Traveling more than 15 miles per hour over the speed limit can increase the penalties or even earn you a reckless driving conviction.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving includes traffic violations like ignoring posted traffic signs and laws or driving aggressively. The penalties are higher for CDL holders since commercial vehicles are known to cause more damage on the road.
Fines and CDL suspensions are all possible consequences. But you may even face criminal charges in some cases.
Tailgating
Tailgating is when you do not leave enough space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Following another car too closely can increase the risk of an accident happening.
In some cases, tailgating can be cited as a type of reckless driving. You may receive a fine, have your CDL suspended, or worse.
Improper Lane Change
Improper lane changes come in many forms. One of the most common citations is for failure to signal before changing lanes. Failure to check blind spots or merge safely can also earn you an improper lane change citation.
Fines and points on your driving record are the potential penalties for earning an improper lane change violation. However, a conviction can also result in CDL suspension.
Driving While Intoxicated
In Florida, CDL holders can get a traffic violation even if their BAC is not above 0.08%. If you are pulled over and have a BAC over 0.04%, your CDL can temporarily lose your CDL license.
If your BAC is above 0.08%, you could end up losing your CDL for good. Learn more about the penalties for these and other traffic violations next.
The Penalties for These Minor Traffic Violations
These traffic violations may not be serious if you are a regular driver. But if you have a CDL, they can earn you some hefty fines. You may also be subject to the following penalties.
Points
Florida uses a points system, which assigns a value to each traffic violation you receive. For example, getting up to 12 points in a year can result in a 30-day CDL suspension, even if you don’t receive an out-of-service order.
Fines
Traffic ticket fines vary depending on the county where you get the citation. Here’s an example of the types of fines for speeding in Florida:
- 6-9 mph over: $144
- 10-14 mph over: $129
- 15-19 mph over: $219
- 20-29 mph over: $294
CDL holders may receive even higher fines for speeding due to the increased danger speeding poses to other drivers on the road.
Out-of-Service Orders
All of the above traffic violations may earn you an out-of-service order. That means your CDL will automatically be suspended. How long you lose your license depends on the number of offenses and the type of vehicle.
You can lose your license for up to a year for a first-time offense. That penalty goes up to two years if you receive a first-time offense while driving a hazmat vehicle or a vehicle carrying 15 or more passengers.
If you get a second violation within 10 years, you may lose your CDL for up to five years or two years at a minimum. If you were driving a hazmat or vehicle with 15 or more passengers, the minimum suspension is three years.
A third traffic violation of any kind within 10 years of the prior offense comes with a three to five-year CDL suspension, regardless of what kind of vehicle you were driving.
DUI Surcharges
If you receive a driving under the influence (DUI) citation as a CDL, you are subject to a surcharge. Surcharges are added on top of the fine you receive for any other violations you incur.
Florida’s DUI surcharges increase with the number of convictions you receive. A first-time DUI could earn you up to $5,000 in fines. Second convictions come with surcharges of up to $2,000, and a third can earn you up to $5,000 in fines.
Getting four DUI convictions will add at least $1,000 to your ticket. But that is only the minimum. You could end up in financial trouble if you don’t fight your conviction with the help of a DUI lawyer in Florida.
Lifetime CDL Revocation
Even a first-time offense for some traffic violations can result in you losing your CDL for life. Steer clear of the following more serious traffic violations if you want to hold onto your license:
- Transporting drugs
- Driving with a suspended CDL
- Negligent driving resulting in a fatality
- Commercial vehicle felonies
- Fleeing an accident scene
Your license is your livelihood. Don’t let these consequences happen to you. Call a CDL traffic violation lawyer to help you get your ticket dismissed.
Need a Traffic Ticket Lawyer in Florida?
These minor traffic violations can earn CDL holders major penalties in Florida. You can face fines at the least. In the worst-case scenario, you can lose your CDL and your job.
Do you need help fighting a traffic ticket in Florida? The expert traffic ticket attorneys at RHINO Lawyers can protect your CDL. We have offices in Tampa and Lakeland, so you can drop by in person.
Contact RHINO Lawyers today to schedule your consultation and avoid the penalties of a traffic ticket conviction!
CONTACT TAMPA TRAFFIC TICKET ATTORNEY
RHINO Lawyers can help and guide you through a system molded by law enforcement, judges, and lawyers for decades. Having won cases for our clients in similar circumstances, our criminal defense team knows what it takes to fight on your behalf.
Let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. So, get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at (844) RHINO-77.
