What Happens If I Get a DUI in a Company Vehicle in Pinellas County, FL?
Getting arrested for DUI is stressful under any circumstances, much less when someone is driving a company car at the time of their arrest. While Florida law generally treats a DUI the same regardless of who owns the vehicle, there can be additional employment-related consequences, including your employer’s insurance and your continued employment.
At The Law Office of Timothy Sullivan, you can work with an experienced DWI defense attorney in Clearwater to best understand your rights and protect your future.
What Are the Immediate Legal Consequences After Getting Arrested in Pinellas County?
If you are arrested in a company vehicle, it is likely that you may be taken into custody by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Clearwater Police Department, or another local law enforcement agency rather than being booked straight into the Pinellas County Jail. Your criminal case will typically proceed through the Pinellas County Court’s Criminal Division.
There are other factors to keep in mind after your arrest. In addition to the criminal case, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may suspend your driver’s license. In most cases, you can request a formal review hearing to challenge your administrative suspension, but it needs to be done within 10 days. In addition, if the company vehicle you were driving is impounded, an authorized representative of the business must retrieve the vehicle instead of you, so plans must be arranged accordingly.
For someone convicted of their first DUI, the potential penalties can include up to six months in jail, or longer if your blood alcohol concentration was .15 or higher, fines beginning at $500, probation, DUI school, and even a possible installation of an ignition interlock device.
Does Driving a Company Vehicle Change the DUI Charge?
In most cases, no. Florida’s DUI laws apply the same whether you were driving your own vehicle, a rental car, or a company-owned vehicle. The fact that your employer owns the vehicle has no effect and does not reduce or increase your criminal liability.
However, driving a company vehicle can create additional issues outside of the criminal case. Your employer may require you to report the arrest, and company insurance policies may affect whether you are allowed to continue driving for work.
If you were operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), different rules apply. Commercial drivers are subject to a lower legal blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.04 while operating a CMV, and if your BAC was higher than that at the time of arrest, you will likely be subject to a harsher penalty, especially without representation from a top Clearwater DWI attorney.
Special Rules for CDL Drivers
For drivers who hold a Commercial Driver License, also known as a CDL, the consequences can be especially severe. A first DUI conviction can result in a one-year CDL disqualification, and a second DUI may lead to a lifetime CDL disqualification.
What is distinct about this is that these CDL penalties can apply even if the DUI occurred while driving a personal or company passenger vehicle rather than a commercial truck.
Employer Notification and Job Consequences
Many drivers wonder whether their employer will automatically learn about a DUI arrest as soon as it happens. While employers are not always immediately notified, they may discover the arrest through required reporting, driving record reviews, insurance renewals, or background checks.
A DUI involving a company vehicle may also affect the employer’s fleet insurance coverage. Depending on company policy, an employee can be suspended from their driving duties, reassigned, or even lawfully terminated.
However, we have found that drivers for rideshare companies, like Uber, Lyft and Doordash, frequently have their access to the driver app suspended following an arrest. These companies continuously perform background checks on its drivers.
Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney in Clearwater With an Exceptional Track Record
A DUI arrest involving a company vehicle can affect more than your criminal record. It may also impact your career, driving privileges, and future employment opportunities. Working with an experienced DWI defense lawyer in Clearwater as soon as you possibly can can help you understand your charge, your options, and how you can build a strong defense strategy together.
For a free case consultation with a top Clearwater DWI attorney, please contact The Law Office of Timothy Sullivan today.