Accumulation of Motor Vehicle Points can significantly impact your life, especially if you are a Commercial Driver License holder or a CDL driver. Certain types of traffic violation, such as Driving While Intoxicated or Refusal to Submit to a Breathalyzer, will have a direct impact on your ability to hold a CDL license, even if you got the traffic ticket while you were operating a non-commercial vehicle at the time.
If you have a CDL and have received a traffic violation, whether you were driving your commercial or non-commercial vehicle at the time, you should take all necessary steps to fight the ticket to avoid a conviction and accumulation of points on your driving record. The most important step you can take is to hire an experienced New Jersey traffic ticket attorney to fight for you.
Impact by Ticket Types
Below is the impact on CDL drivers if you are convicted of some common types of traffic violations. A conviction of any of the following traffic violations will result in a 60-day suspension of your CDL, regardless of whether you lose your non-CDL license:
- Reckless Driving
- Speeding Ticket (in excess of 15 mph)
- Following too Closely (Tailgating)
- Making an Improper Turn
- Texting While Driving
For a complete list, please click on the following https://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/Violations/cdl_chart.pdf.
Impact of Traffic Ticket on CSA2010 Rating
Traffic violation tickets can also impact your CDL license by having a direct impact on your rating for safety. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the Federal Department that governs interstate trucking, publishes a Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA) 2010. This initiative is designed to improve the effectiveness of the Agency’s compliance and enforcement programs and assess the safety of performance for CDL license holders. It allows the federal agency to intervene early to change unsafe carrier driver behavior.
The FMSA maintains a system that allows them to track driver traffic violations in every state in which the trucker gets a ticket. The results are distributed to Motor Carriers in an attempt to improve safety. Motor Carriers can refer to this list when evaluating truck drivers.
Call a New Jersey Driver’s Traffic Ticket Attorney Today
If you or someone you know has gotten a ticket and wants to avoid a conviction, an experienced attorney can help. Fighting traffic violation tickets are especially important if you are a CDL license holder.
Call Beninato & Matrafajlo Attorneys at Law, LLC at 908-355-7100 to schedule a free, complimentary consultation with our legal team today to see how we can help you fight your ticket.
