Can a CDL Be Permanently Revoked in Illinois?

 Posted on September 10, 2021 in License Reinstatement

According to Illinois law, there are a number of violations for which a CDL driver can face fines and the temporary suspension of their commercial driver’s license. These penalties can have quite serious consequences, especially for those who rely on their CDL for their livelihood. However, some violations can come with even more serious consequences, including a lifetime disqualification of a driver’s CDL. If you are facing charges for one of these CDL violations, it is crucial that you have a strong defense strategy.

Which CDL Violations Can Result in Lifetime Disqualification? 

In Illinois, CDL drivers will rarely face a lifetime disqualification of their license for a first violation of any kind. However, there are several offenses for which a first violation will result in disqualification for at least 12 months. If a driver commits two of these offenses, or the same offense twice, in two separate incidents, the penalty increases to a lifetime disqualification. The violations for which this applies include:

• Refusing to submit to a chemical test for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) or other controlled substances

• Operating a commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of at least 0.04 or with any amount of an unlawful controlled substance in your system

• Operating a non-commercial motor vehicle with a BAC of at least 0.08 or with any amount of an unlawful controlled substance in your system

• Driving a commercial or noncommercial motor vehicle while your driving abilities are impaired by alcohol or a controlled substance

• Leaving the scene of an accident while driving a commercial or noncommercial motor vehicle

• Driving a commercial motor vehicle without a valid license

• Negligently operating a commercial motor vehicle, resulting in another person’s death

• Driving a commercial or non-commercial vehicle while committing a felony

If you use a vehicle to commit a felony related to the manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance, you may receive a lifetime disqualification of your CDL for a first offense.

Can My CDL Be Reinstated?

If your CDL is disqualified for life, you may still be able to have it reinstated. However, you will need to wait at least 10 years in order to do so, and the process can be quite difficult. Additionally, if your license is reinstated after a lifetime disqualification, a subsequent violation from the above list will result in a renewed disqualification, this time permanently.

Contact a Naperville CDL Defense Attorney

If you have been charged with a violation that could result in the lifetime disqualification of your CDL, it is important that you have an experienced defense attorney on your side. At Law Office of Patricia Magaña, LLC, we will do everything in our power to help you secure an acquittal or dismissal of the charges you are facing. If you have lost your license, we can also help you in your efforts to have it reinstated. Call us today at 630-448-2001 for a free consultation with our DuPage County CDL violation lawyer.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K6-514