Commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders are held to higher standards than most other road users in Maine.
These types of licenses are considered special driver’s licenses that allow someone to drive commercial motor vehicles like large trailer trucks and buses or any vehicle over 26,000 pounds.
An OUI is an especially serious offense if you drive a commercial vehicle. You would be right to have concerns about your license and, indeed, your employment and your ability to earn an income should you find yourself on the wrong side of a breathalyzer test with Maine law enforcement.
So, what happens to your commercial license if you get an OUI in Maine? Do you lose it? If so, for how long?
Let’s clear up the main questions we’re asked about this situation by commercial drivers….
Table of Contents
Criminal OUI with a commercial driver’s license in Maine
To maintain employment that involves driving a commercial motor vehicle, you must have a valid CDL in Maine.
A criminal OUI charge, which is more correctly called “operating under the influence” (OUI) in Maine, can put this license at risk.
This applies regardless of whether the CDL holder is driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the stop by law enforcement or not. The bottom line is that if the charge leads to an OUI conviction, the CDL holder will experience a negative impact on his/her CDL.
Under the Maine OUI laws, you can be charged with OUI in the following circumstances if you were driving your own vehicle:
- Operating a motor vehicle while:
- Under the influence of intoxicants or
- Having an alcohol level of 0.08 grams or more of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood or 201 liters of breath.
It’s important to understand that you do not need to register over the legal limit to be found guilty of OUI in Maine.
Also, for CDL holders, the law varies if you were driving a commercial vehicle at the time of the stop (see the section on rule violations below).
If you are charged with OUI, the court process and Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) process for commercial drivers is similar to that for standard driver’s license holders. However, for commercial drivers who rely on their licenses to earn an income, the consequences can be much harsher.
If convicted, how serious your punishment is will partly depend on your criminal driving history but there is no easy ride if you are convicted. Even for a first offense, your CDL will be suspended for at least a year. A second or subsequent offense can result in a lifetime disqualification from driving a commercial vehicle.
How is an OUI charge with a CDL proven in Maine courts?
To convict you for OUI in Maine, the prosecution will need to prove the following elements of the charge:
You were operating a motor vehicle
This can constitute driving or preparing to drive. So, if you are in the driver’s seat with the keys in the ignition, you are considered to be operating the motor vehicle.
A BAC level of 0.08 grams or over
A blood alcohol level of 0.08 or higher means you are legally “intoxicated” in Maine. To prove this element, a breath or blood test is usually used in Maine, though a urine test may also be requested. The “implied consent” law here means that no driver has the option to refuse a chemical test or the refusal will be used as evidence to convict the driver of the charge and the sentence may be enhanced because of the refusal.
Under the influence of intoxicants
Even if you are under the legal limit, if you are proven to be “under the influence of intoxicants” you can still be convicted of OUI. This may include alcohol, illegal drugs, prescription medications or a combination of these substances. Evidence such as the observations of police officers and field sobriety tests (which test for signs of impairment) can be used to prove this element. Note that you can legally refuse to take a field sobriety test.
What are the penalties for an OUI conviction for a CDL holder in Maine?
The criminal penalties for OUI for a CDL holder are the same as for a standard license holder in Maine.
A first OUI Offense is a Class D misdemeanor in Maine: this carries both mandatory minimum and maximum sentences, including fines, jail time, and court-imposed license suspensions.
The fine will be between $500 and $2,000 plus fees and surcharges. You can be jailed for up to 364 days (though there is no mandatory minimum jail sentence) and your license will be suspended for 150 days.
A commercial license holder will also be subject to the following serious administrative consequences for their license:
- One-year suspension of their CDL for a first offense
- Three-year suspension if he/she was hauling hazardous materials (e.g., noxious chemicals or flammable materials)
- Lifetime disqualification of their CDL for a subsequent offense
The implied consent laws mean that if a CDL holder refuses to submit to an alcohol breath test, his/her license will be suspended immediately for one year for a first refusal (three years if carrying hazardous materials) and lifetime disqualification for a second refusal.
What Does It Mean to Violate the .04 BAC Limit as a CDL Driver in Maine?
Commercial drivers in Maine are held to a stricter BAC standard than the general public. While most drivers face OUI charges at .08 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, federal regulations require CDL holders to meet a higher standard behind the wheel of a commercial vehicle.
Operating a commercial vehicle with a BAC of .04 or higher constitutes what Maine law refers to as a “rule violation,” a separate and distinct offense from a standard OUI charge.
A rule violation carries a Class E misdemeanor charge. While that is a lesser offense than a full OUI, the administrative consequences are serious. A first rule violation triggers an automatic one-year suspension of your commercial driver’s license. A second rule violation results in lifetime disqualification of your CDL.
For professional drivers whose livelihood depends on that license, even a single violation can be career-ending.
How can a defense attorney successfully defend against a CDL OUI charge in Maine?
Although the laws for commercial driver’s license holders are strict when it comes to alcohol or illicit substances, you always have a defense if you find yourself charged with OUI as a CDL holder.
One of our OUI defense lawyers will listen to your side of the story, launch an investigation, and start building a defense based on one or more of the following common arguments:
- No reasonable suspicion or probable cause: if the officer didn’t have reasonable suspicion to pull you over or probable cause to request an alcohol breath test, the stop may be unlawful.
- Field Sobriety Tests issues: unless the officer was properly trained in executing the tests and followed standard procedures, the test may have been unlawful.
- Problems with the breath test: breathalyzers are highly technical and unless the officer was correctly trained and the machine correctly calibrated, mistakes could easily have been made.
- Problems with the blood test: Were proper procedures followed for the blood draw and when the blood was tested in the lab?
Contact The Maine Criminal Defense Group For Help Today
If you’re facing an OUI/DUI charge in Maine that could affect your commercial driver’s license, challenging your charge in court is very important.
Hiring a quality Maine OUI defense attorney to help you in court is the best way to fight against your OUI/DUI charges. Call The Maine Criminal Defense Group today at (207) 571-8146 or contact us directly online.
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