commercial vehicles

Truckers: Get Back on the Road Again After a Speeding Ticket

A speeding ticket may not seem like a big deal, but the fines can be astronomical, and jail time is often on the table. For truckers and other professional drivers, receiving a speeding ticket can present unique challenges.

If you’re a trucker in Central New York and you’ve recently received a speeding ticket, your best bet for getting back on the road as soon as possible is to contact a legal professional with experience in traffic violations.

Our dedicated attorneys at New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers can help you work through your legal options and come out with the best possible outcome.

Common Trucker Traffic Violations

Trucking is a trade like any other, and driving a large vehicle for long periods takes skill and patience. By nature, trucks are also more dangerous than smaller vehicles on the road. As such, truckers must pay even more attention to traffic safety laws.

However, no driver is perfect, and truckers can make mistakes like anyone else. Here are a few of the most common traffic tickets that truckers receive:

  • Speeding
  • Drunk driving or driving under the influence
  • Drowsy driving
  • Distracted driving
  • Failure to secure the load
  • Ignoring the rules of the road
  • Exceeding the maximum consecutive number of hours on the road
  • Losing track of blind spots
  • Driving too fast for road conditions

It becomes easy to make mistakes when you’re on the road in an unwieldy vehicle for extended periods. An experienced lawyer can help you explore your legal options, regardless of the type and severity of your traffic violation.

What does a speeding violation mean for a trucker?

Law enforcement officers regard speeding as an especially dangerous violation among Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) holders. This means potential penalties might be more expensive or serious in terms of jail time for people who drive Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMVs).

All CMV drivers in Central New York are required to notify their employers of any traffic ticket convictions they receive, excluding parking tickets, within 30 days of the conviction.

Even if you’re a CDL holder operating a private vehicle, paying a fine for a speeding ticket means an admission of guilt and, therefore, a conviction.

You don’t get off scot-free if you’re a CDL holder who isn’t employed at the time you receive your commercial ticket. You’ll have to notify your state licensing authority if you’re convicted of a speeding ticket.

What all this means is that your license — and therefore your employment — could be in danger should you receive a speeding ticket.

Getting Back on the Road

For truckers, getting back on the road isn’t just a matter of convenience. It’s about quality of life and your ability to provide for yourself and your family.

If you receive a speeding citation, you may think your only option is to admit guilt, pay your fine, and report the violation to your employer or state licensing authority. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The first step to getting back on the road after a speeding citation is contacting an experienced attorney, who can talk you through your options for legal recourse.

Trust New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers to Handle Your Case

Getting back on the road after a speeding ticket can be tough for anyone, but it’s especially challenging for truckers, who are essentially professional drivers.

If you’ve recently been ticketed, the best thing to do is contact an attorney as soon as possible. When it comes to the particulars of speeding tickets, lawyers often know more than employers, police, and even regulatory authorities themselves.

The dedicated attorneys at New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers have extensive experience helping clients navigate traffic violations in New York. Contact our offices today to schedule a consultation.

David Hammond, Esq. is a traffic offense lawyer and prosecutor that has over a decade of experience fighting for the rights of service members and their families. He served nine years and went on two combat tours as an active duty US Army officer. He then joined the Reserves and moved to Syracuse to be near his family. Not only does he defend the rights of Central New Yorkers, but he also has a veteran-focused practice. David represents servicemen and women before the military appellate courts and takes cases to fix service members’ military records. If you have any questions about this article, you can contact David by clicking here.