California law has long held commercial drivers to a higher standard. In addition to tougher requirements to obtain a commercial license, commercial drivers are also held to stricter standards relating to driving under the influence (DUI) charges. It's no surprise that as times change, the laws change with them.
The explosion in popularity of rideshare programs has led California to amend their DUI regulations so that taxi, limo, and rideshare drivers are held to the same legal standard as other commercial drivers. This change is due to the trust the passengers of taxis, limos, and rideshare companies put in their drivers. If you have been charged with a DUI while driving a taxi, limo, or rideshare vehicle in L.A. County, William S. Kroger Attorney at Law may be able to help.
While the standard for obtaining a DUI conviction for a taxi, limo, or rideshare driver is lower, the potential penalties are the same as any DUI conviction. A first, second, or third conviction is a misdemeanor while subsequent convictions are felonies. There are a number of limo, taxi, and rideshare companies that operate in L.A. County, and California Vehicle Code § 23152 (e) applies to all of them. Some of the most commonly used rideshare companies in L.A. County include:
One of the two major players in the rideshare industry, Lyft originated as a long-distance rideshare platform for college students. Today, it is a billion-dollar company that has a fleet of freelance drivers nationwide. Lyft offers several tiers of rides, from the most basic to luxury options.
The largest player in the rideshare industry, Uber is a worldwide phenomenon available in 785 metropolitan areas. Founded in 2009, the industry leader has a variety of services, including luxury rides and food delivery.
Less well-known than Lyft or Uber, HopSkipDrive is a popular rideshare option in L.A. County. HopSkipDrive caters to children, requiring newer vehicles and drivers with a background in childcare. To ensure safety, HopSkipDrive requires a 13-point background check for all drivers.
The allowable blood alcohol concentration for a taxi, limo, or rideshare driver is significantly lower than for non-commercial drivers. According to California Vehicle Code § 23152 (e), it is unlawful:
For a person who has 0.04 percent or more, by weight, of alcohol in their blood to drive a motor vehicle when a passenger for hire is in the vehicle. This applies to anyone driving commercially, with or without an active rideshare app session.
In other words, if you are operating a taxi, limo, or rideshare vehicle with a paying passenger, it is unlawful to register a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more. This distinction is critical, as the law does not apply if you are driving without passengers.
You are a rideshare driver operating in L.A. County. Despite having a few drinks earlier in the evening, you decide to pick up a few rides before heading home. On your way to a passenger’s destination, you are pulled over for speeding. The arresting officer smells alcohol on your breath, and you are eventually arrested on suspicion of DUI. If your BAC is above 0.04, you will face charges as a rideshare DUI defense lawyer can explain.
You log in to your app after drinks, intending to pick up rides. However, you are pulled over en route to a passenger, and your BAC is above 0.04. Though you can be charged with DUI, you will not be held to the same commercial standards as you did not have a passenger in your car.
Convictions carry penalties such as jail time, license suspension, and fines. For first offenses, you may face up to 6 months in jail and fines up to $1,000. Subsequent convictions increase jail time and suspension periods. Felony DUIs result in up to 4 years in prison. Additionally, your ability to work as a rideshare driver may be permanently affected.
Hiring an experienced rideshare DUI defense lawyer ensures you explore every defense strategy, including challenging chemical tests and the validity of the traffic stop. Unique defenses, such as proving a passenger was not paying, are also critical.
If you face DUI charges as a rideshare driver, contact William Kroger today. With years of experience, William Kroger can provide the guidance you need to protect your career and rights.
Additional resources for rideshare DUI drivers include our pages on rideshare DUIs, DUIs involving drugs, and criminal defense strategies.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed sed augue mauris. Integer placerat et massa in pharetra. Cras diam mi, tincidunt nec erat in, mollis sagittis sapien. Quisque ultrices id diam quis dapibus. Nullam ac erat ac justo convallis fringilla nec ut purus. Vivamus volutpat orci et lacus tempus fringilla. Morbi sed erat vel nisi blandit placerat eget eget sapien.
Nulla eget tristique leo. Proin dignissim tellus nec risus congue fringilla. Donec interdum purus sem, a finibus ante efficitur ornare. Quisque ullamcorper pharetra lacus, vitae pharetra magna pretium vel. Donec aliquet purus sed pellentesque mollis. Pellentesque vestibulum eget massa in facilisis. Phasellus eu risus non metus consectetur facilisis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus. In vitae fermentum enim, in vulputate diam. Aliquam malesuada urna suscipit, elementum sapien ac, posuere nisl.
Integer malesuada leo quis erat imperdiet aliquet. Aliquam ut eros vulputate, pharetra nulla quis, bibendum justo. Suspendisse justo leo, efficitur vel ex nec, fermentum condimentum dui. Suspendisse ut massa sit amet ligula mattis viverra. Sed sed turpis ligula. In vulputate, enim sit amet laoreet blandit, elit nisl fermentum odio, nec convallis libero dolor nec tellus. Donec rutrum nibh non nibh tincidunt, non iaculis diam dignissim. Sed nec massa pellentesque, gravida sem id, lobortis nisi. Integer turpis metus, sagittis vitae metus vel, feugiat congue nibh.
Vestibulum sed arcu eleifend ipsum eleifend semper nec sed est. Nam dapibus massa ut scelerisque egestas. Integer at elit faucibus elit molestie luctus. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Curabitur nulla neque, rhoncus sit amet ultricies ac, sagittis ac nibh. Praesent mattis ultricies nisi vitae efficitur. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nunc ullamcorper non est vitae faucibus. Duis pellentesque magna fermentum leo molestie, et dapibus diam dictum. Vivamus eu purus ullamcorper, consequat diam quis, blandit eros. Cras ultrices finibus metus, eget tempor sem euismod quis. Interdum et malesuada fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.
Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Fusce hendrerit arcu vel nisi bibendum, nec accumsan nunc sollicitudin. Mauris eu pretium ante, at rhoncus metus. Nunc dignissim turpis vel libero commodo imperdiet. Vestibulum ante ipsum primis in faucibus orci luctus et ultrices posuere cubilia curae; Donec gravida arcu eu turpis lobortis, vitae bibendum lectus egestas. Phasellus gravida eleifend ligula, eu sagittis diam rhoncus ut. Suspendisse fringilla ipsum eu purus tincidunt ornare. Vestibulum tincidunt enim eu ante mattis interdum. Integer molestie, est quis tincidunt dapibus, ex diam ultrices enim, nec vestibulum lectus orci non elit. Etiam vestibulum justo erat, ut vulputate urna dapibus vitae. Fusce ultrices lacus ac eros scelerisque, non malesuada neque ultrices. In pretium mi sed eros pharetra, eu molestie felis consectetur.
This page was reviewed and approved by William S. Kroger, a leading criminal defense attorney in Los Angeles. Mr. Kroger has decades of experience defending clients in both state and federal courts. He is recognized for his strong trial skills and dedication to protecting the rights of the accused. Throughout his career, he has successfully represented clients facing a wide range of serious criminal charges. His personalized defense strategies are designed to achieve the best possible outcome in every case. Clients trust Mr. Kroger for his knowledge, commitment, and proven results.
He is also an active member of respected legal organizations, including the American Bar Association and the National Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers. With his expertise and reputation, William S. Kroger is regarded as one of California’s top defense lawyers.
"*" indicates required fields
