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Tickets when you hold a CDL

Federal rules apply on top of your state's, even for tickets you get in your own car.

Serious traffic violations

Federal rules list ten "serious traffic violations":[1]

A second conviction in a separate incident within three years disqualifies you from driving a commercial vehicle for 60 days, and a third for 120 days.In your own car: the first five count too, but only if the conviction leads to a suspension, revocation or cancellation of your license or non-commercial driving privileges.[1]

No masking

States may not mask a CLP or CDL holder's conviction, defer judgment, or send them to a diversion program that keeps a traffic conviction off the national CDL driver record (CDLIS), in any type of vehicle and whatever state the ticket was in. The only exceptions are parking, vehicle weight and vehicle defect violations.[2] In practice that is why traffic school and deferred disposition are usually closed to CDL holders. Check your state:

What else do people ask?

Can a CDL holder take traffic school for a ticket?

Usually not. Federal rule 49 CFR 384.226 bars states from masking or deferring a CDL holder’s traffic conviction, so most states exclude CDL holders from ticket-dismissal courses.

How many tickets before I lose my CDL?

Under 49 CFR 383.51, a second serious traffic violation within three years means a 60-day disqualification from driving a commercial vehicle, and a third means 120 days. In a personal vehicle, a violation counts only if it leads to a license suspension or revocation.

Sources (2)
  1. 49 CFR 383.51 Disqualification of drivers (Table 2, serious traffic violations), Cornell LII copy of the CFR (official text: ecfr.gov).
  2. 49 CFR 384.226 Prohibition on masking convictions, Cornell LII copy of the CFR (official text: ecfr.gov).