If you are convicted of a DWI/DUI, you could face serious criminal, civil and professional consequences as a result. Those consequences will be even more severe if you carry a commercial driver's license (CDL). The effects of a DWI/DUI on your commercial driver's licensecan be catastrophic.

If you hold a CDL and you are convicted of a DWI/DUI, Federal Regulation 383.51 is activated automatically. This will cause you to lose your CDL for one year in addition to the other consequences that accompany a DWI/DUI conviction in Minnesota.

If you are convicted of a second DWI/DUI, you will lose your CDL for life.

Your CDL may be more vulnerable than you think, so it's important to keep three things in mind.

• First, any DWI/DUI conviction will affect your CDL, even if you were convicted of the offense while operating your own car, SUV, boat or motorcycle.
• Second, if you are operating your commercial vehicle, the legal limit is .04 as opposed to the normal .08.
• Lastly, you cannot get a work permit to maintain your CDL in Minnesota.

Since 2008, if you lose your license, as part of a careless driving conviction or a DWI-decision of not guilty, your CDL will still be affected as though you were convicted.

If you are convicted of DUI/DWI and you lose your CDL, you could be fired from your job, sacrificing your chance at future income and jeopardizing your career. Employers are hesitant to hire a driver with a DWI/DUI conviction because it will likely affect their insurance premiums.

So what can you do? If you are facing such charges, you need experienced legal counsel. Contact Attorney Eric J. Olson for vigorous defense and unrivaled results.