Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/683061
LEGAL LANE 38 // COMPANY DRIVER // JUNE 2016 had a general practice (wills, divorce, con- tracts, etc.) Facts: driver was from Illinois and received the citation in Ohio for going 68 in a 55 MPH zone. The attorney was able to have the ticket reduced to 59/55 MPH and both the driver and attorney were happy. OOPS -- three weeks later the driver re- ceived a notice from the IL DMV informing him his license was being suspended for 30 days because this was his third conviction in a 12 month period. The local OH attorney knew nothing about IL law and ended up causing the driver to be suspended. Had the driver been licensed in OH where the attorney practiced, all would have gone well. The moral of that story is hiring an attorney that knows truck- ing law and works nationwide so they know the laws of every state as they apply to truck drivers. What about the citation received during an inspection where the officer writing the cita- tion is judge, jury and executioner? In that situation you can do a DataQ Challenge, but you will need to provide all the documenta- tion you can as well as present your story so that a reasonable person could take your side. If you can convince the officer he made a mis- take, then he will remove or reduce the cita- tion and the points on your CSA. You must fight every ticket you receive. You must do a DataQ Challenge on any in- spection you receive where the officer puts points on your CSA. There is a huge driver shortage out there right now; however, a lot of that shortage is caused because carriers re- fuse to hire drivers with too many points on the CDL or CSA. You try to be a professional driver and you try to be a safe driver, but remember; Trucks and truck drivers just seem to attract traffic tickets, like flies to a picnic. CD Jim C. Klepper is President of Interstate Trucker Ltd., a law firm entirely dedicated to legal defense of the nation's commercial drivers. Interstate Trucker represents truck drivers throughout the forty-eight (48) states on both moving and non-moving violations. Jim is also president of Drivers Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access to his firm's services at greatly discounted rates. Jim, a former prosecutor, is also a registered pharmacist, with considerable experience in alcohol and drug related cases. He is a law- yer that has focused on transportation law and the trucking industry in particular. He works to answer your legal questions about trucking and life over-the-road and has his Commercial Drivers License. 800-333-DRIVE (3748) or www.intersta- tetrucker.com and www.driverslegalplan.com