Commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) are required to operate tractor-trailers and other large commercial vehicles throughout the US. CDL drivers are held to higher standards than most other drivers, and any traffic violations can lead to serious penalties, including suspension or revocation of a CDL. A Wilmington CDL traffic violations lawyer can help if you have been charged with any CDL traffic violation.

A criminal defense lawyer is an invaluable asset when you have been charged with a crime, but they can also prove crucial when you are facing a CDL traffic violation charge that threatens your ability to work and earn income. The team at Christina Rivenbark & Associates has helped many past clients navigate these cases and avoid harsh penalties for alleged traffic violations in Wilmington and the surrounding areas of North Carolina.
Our firm understands the unique legal concerns many CDL drivers face after being charged with traffic violations. Depending on the details of your situation, you could have more ways to defend yourself than you initially realized, so it’s important to hire a CDL traffic violations lawyer as soon as possible after any such charge in Wilmington. We are confident we can help you reach a positive outcome in this case.
Large commercial vehicles are inherently dangerous in several ways, and the trucking industry is one of the most heavily regulated sectors in the US due to public safety concerns. According to the National Safety Council, 114,552 large trucks were involved in injury crashes and 5,375 in fatal crashes across the US in 2023. About 70% of the victims of these accidents were occupants of smaller passenger vehicles.
CDL drivers must follow strict rules and regulations and abide by the same traffic laws as all other drivers. Some examples of commonly reported traffic violations in Wilmington include:
It’s also possible for a driver to face prosecution if they use a commercial vehicle while committing some other felony. Other traffic violations are also common in the Wilmington area, such as illegal turns or failure to stop for red lights and stop signs. CDL drivers accrue demerit points on their CDLs more quickly for violations than individual drivers do.
Any CDL traffic violation can potentially result in severe penalties, including fines or even loss of the CDL. Suspensions can last months or even years, and revocation is possible for severe offenses such as intoxicated driving. When you are charged with any CDL traffic violation, it’s crucial to consult an experienced attorney at your first opportunity so they can determine your most viable defenses.
The team at Christina Rivenbark & Associates can help you approach this difficult situation with confidence. When you are accused of a CDL violation, this could put your livelihood in jeopardy, and you may not know how to defend yourself and prove the truth of the situation. You have limited time to defend yourself, so reach out to our team and learn how a skilled Wilmington CDL traffic violations lawyer can assist with your case.
The penalties for CDL traffic violations in Wilmington, NC, can include demerit points on your license, fines, suspension of your CDL, or even jail time. Trucking industry regulatory violations are taken very seriously, and any driver who is charged with a traffic violation could also face disciplinary action from their employer. Ultimately, penalties for CDL traffic violations in Wilmington are assigned on a case-by-case basis.
Possible defenses in a CDL traffic violation case could be a mistake of fact, such as incorrectly obtained or otherwise questionable evidence, or procedural violations on the part of the prosecution. It is also possible that the violation occurred without the driver’s fault and that another party is actually liable for the incident. Your Wilmington CDL traffic violations lawyer can identify all possible defenses you could leverage in your case.
Yes, it is possible to lose your CDL for a traffic violation in Wilmington, NC. If you accrue too many demerit points on your CDL, this could lead to revocation. It’s also possible for commercial drivers to face temporary suspensions if they are found guilty of certain violations. It is also possible for a commercial driver to be placed temporarily “out of service” if they are suspected of driving while intoxicated in North Carolina.
You should hire a CDL traffic violations lawyer to help you avoid unjust penalties if you did not commit the violation in question. If you did violate the traffic laws in any way, your attorney could still help you reduce your penalties. If you lose your CDL, you may need to start a new job and struggle to make ends meet, so it is always vital to have legal counsel you can trust on your side in such a situation.
The team at Christina Rivenbark & Associates has years of proven experience handling all types of traffic violation cases for clients in the Wilmington area, including CDL drivers. The first steps you take after you are charged with a CDL traffic violation of any kind are crucial, and we’re confident we can help you reach a positive outcome in your case. Contact us today and schedule a free consultation with a Wilmington CDL traffic violations attorney you can trust.