Multiple Charges for Commercial Truck Driver Reduced Under Careless Driving
For a commercial truck driver, a traffic ticket is much more than a mere inconvenience, with the worst-case scenario being the end of their driving career. Serious traffic offenses can result in a suspension of your CDL, which ultimately affects your livelihood.
We at the Logue Law Group recently handled a case that perfectly illustrates this risk. Our client, a dedicated commercial driver, was facing multiple traffic charges, which could have cost him his job. However, our knowledgeable team of Pittsburgh criminal lawyers was able to get those charges reduced. Let’s explore how our experts made this possible.
Charges and Penalties for Careless Driving in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, careless driving is considered to be a summary offense. Although such a charge is way less severe than reckless driving, it results in a fine of up to $200. Not just that, but careless driving in Pennsylvania can also add three points to your driving record.
But what if the consequences are more severe? Well, in such cases of severe bodily injuries or fatalities due to careless driving, the fine amounts can shoot up significantly. Besides that, your CDL could also be suspended.
Especially when it comes to commercial drivers, a careless driving charge is considered a ‘serious traffic offense’ under federal law. Therefore, a conviction could easily lead to the disqualification of your CDL, especially if you have multiple offenses lined up on your driving record. So, to protect your license, as well as your livelihood, you need to seek help from experienced Pittsburgh criminal lawyers.
How Did We Help Our Client?
The only good thing that our client did was to call us up and brief the whole situation. With the charges hanging around on our client’s CDL, his driving privileges were sure to get suspended, which would have cost him his job.
However, since he sought our help, our Pittsburgh criminal lawyers decided to dig a little deeper and thoroughly review the police report along with every available evidence. And as usual, we found out certain weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
We then entered into negotiating terms with the prosecutor, with just one goal in mind- to prove that the initial charges were not supported by proper facts. Instead, the whole situation was just a case of simple negligence from our client.
And with that context, our Pittsburgh criminal lawyer presented a compelling argument, which helped us come to a resolution. All of our client’s initial charges were dropped, and he pleaded guilty to a much lesser charge- careless driving.
The results? Well, our client had to pay a minimal fine as a penalty, and avoided the three-point penalties as well as the suspension of his CDL effectively. This meant that he could now get back on the road and continue working.
This case of ours is a fine instance of the power of a strong defense strategy. We at the Logue Law Group always try our best to protect your livelihood and fight for the best possible outcome. If you happen to face similar charges, wait no more and contact us at 844.PITT.DUI Pittsburgh criminal lawyer today.