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If you are facing a DUI while holding a CDL in Washington, your livelihood can be at risk before the criminal case is resolved. VanWa Legal has defended DUI charges in Clark County since 2009 and, when retained, can coordinate the court case, DOL hearing, and commercial-license issues.
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| Issue | General Rule |
|---|---|
| Personal or commercial vehicle | A personal-vehicle DUI or refusal can affect a CDL; a commercial-vehicle alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more can trigger disqualification |
| First qualifying event | Generally at least 1 year of CDL disqualification |
| First event while transporting placarded hazardous materials | Generally at least 3 years of CDL disqualification |
| Two qualifying events from separate incidents | Generally lifetime CDL disqualification, subject to the complete record and current law |
| DOL hearing request | The applicable notice can provide as little as 7 days to request a hearing |
A commercial driver needs a defense that accounts for the charge, both types of driving privilege, employment, and short DOL deadlines. VanWa brings:
When retained, VanWa can build the defense around the driver's actual notices, record, work, and evidence. That may include:
No lawyer can promise an outcome, but the strategy should reflect both the charge and the livelihood at stake.
A commercial driver may face three connected tracks: the criminal prosecution, an action against ordinary driving privileges, and CDL disqualification. A personal-vehicle DUI or refusal can still affect the CDL, while a commercial-vehicle alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more can independently matter. Under RCW 46.25.090, qualifying events can generally produce one-year, three-year, or lifetime disqualification periods. VanWa reviews the vehicle, endorsements, prior record, testing allegation, DOL notices, and criminal evidence together before recommending a strategy.
VanWa may examine the reason for the stop, officer observations, body-camera or dash-camera video, field-test administration, breath-device records, blood collection and handling, laboratory records, warnings, and refusal evidence. CDL-specific review can include license class, endorsements, vehicle status, hazardous-material status, prior incidents, and what law enforcement reported to DOL.
The team's prosecution, public-defense, and trial experience helps identify factual, procedural, and testing disputes that may not be visible from the citation alone.
A reduced criminal charge does not automatically erase an arrest-based suspension or CDL disqualification, and a restricted ordinary license does not permit commercial driving. The strategy should also account for employer-notification duties under RCW 46.25.030, the effect of deferred prosecution, and any requalification requirements. Drivers focused on an older record can use the firm's separate guide to obtaining a CDL after a past Washington DUI.
VanWa offers CDL DUI defense to commercial drivers in Vancouver and throughout Clark County. Bring the complete paperwork, endorsements, and Washington or out-of-state driving history so the consultation addresses your actual record.
These government sources support the general legal information on this page. The facts and current documents in an individual case control the legal analysis.
Contact us
Start with a free consultation. Bring every DOL notice, your court papers, CDL and endorsements, and your complete driving record. The team can identify immediate deadlines, explain the service scope, and outline the next step.
Cases we handle
Understand the criminal case stages and the evidence reviewed from the stop through resolution.
Learn more about DUI Process
Review the separate DOL notice, hearing process, and ordinary-license consequences.
Learn more about License Suspension
Refusal evidence may affect the criminal, ordinary-license, and commercial-license tracks.
Learn more about Breath Test Refusals
Blood evidence can involve warrant, collection, handling, laboratory, and notice questions.
Learn more about DUI Blood Warrants
Review a treatment-based process whose criminal and licensing effects require separate analysis.
Learn more about Deferred Prosecution4.9 star reviews based on 110+ reviews
FAQ
VanWa has defended DUI charges in Clark County since 2009. The attorneys bring nearly 30 years of combined criminal-defense experience, former prosecution and public-defense perspectives, thousands of criminal matters, dozens of jury trials, and a process that handles DOL hearings alongside the criminal DUI case.
Yes. Washington's CDL-disqualification law includes listed DUI, concentration, and refusal events involving noncommercial vehicles. The exact effect depends on the reported event, disposition, prior record, and current state and federal rules.
Requesting the applicable hearing preserves the opportunity to contest the DOL action. Washington DOL states that failing to request the hearing, or losing it, can produce automatic CDL disqualification, while the CDL disqualification itself is not a separate issue decided at that hearing.
No restricted ordinary license should be treated as permission to operate a commercial motor vehicle. FMCSA guidance says states may not issue conditional, occupational, hardship, temporary, or similar commercial privileges during a disqualification.
The consultation is free. If VanWa accepts the case and you hire the firm, the written up-front flat-fee quote identifies which stages are included, such as the DOL hearing, motions, or trial. Payment plans are available on most cases.
Contact us
Start with a free consultation. Bring every DOL notice, your court papers, CDL and endorsements, and your complete driving record. The team can identify immediate deadlines, explain the service scope, and outline the next step.