New Hampshire is known for its strict penalties for those convicted of DWI/DUI. If you are a commercial driver with a commercial drivers’ license (CDL), the DWI/DUI rules that apply to you are strict.
New Hampshire Code Section 265-A:23 specifies that a driver’s license is automatically suspended if he or she is convicted of driving a commercial motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04 or greater“ half the limit for drivers of ordinary motor vehicles. The suspension lasts at least one year and occurs whether or not the driver has a valid CDL. If the driver is transporting hazardous materials, the suspension extends to three years. For a second conviction, the driver’s CDL will be suspended for at least ten years, and the court may choose to suspend the license indefinitely.
Although driving with a BAC of 0.04 or more can result in a DWI conviction, a New Hampshire license suspension may also occur if a commercial vehicle driver has any alcohol in his or her system at all. Under Section 265-A:24, any commercial driver who has had any alcohol at all or who refuses to take a chemical test to measure his or her blood alcohol content, is automatically placed out of service for 24 hours. Like drivers of private motor vehicles, all commercial drivers in New Hampshire give their implied consent to chemical tests for intoxication when they receive their New Hampshire driver’s license.
For a commercial driver, facing a CDL suspension could mean the loss of your job and permanent damage to your driving career. If you are facing DWI charges with a CDL, please contact the experienced New Hampshire DWI lawyers at Tenn And Tenn, P.A. We will aggressively defend your DWI charges. Call (603) 614-5055 today for a free and confidential consultation.