Save Your CDL: Jax Traffic Ticket Law

FAQ: Traffic Violations & CDL Protection in Florida

Your CDL is your career. In Duval County and throughout Florida, commercial drivers are held to a much higher standard than passenger vehicle drivers. Even a citation in your personal vehicle can trigger a disqualification of your commercial privileges.

  • 1. What are Florida’s new "Super-Speeder" laws for 2025?

    Effective July 1, 2025, Florida introduced House Bill 351, which reclassifies extreme speeding from a civil infraction to a criminal offense.


    • The Threshold: Driving 50 mph or more over the limit, or exceeding 100 mph regardless of the posted limit.
    • The Penalty: A first offense can result in up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine. A second offense within five years can lead to up to 90 days in jail and a one-year license revocation.

    | CDL Impact: A criminal speeding conviction is often an automatic disqualification for many commercial carriers.

  • 2. What counts as a "Serious Traffic Violation" for CDL holders?

    Under Florida Statute § 322.61, certain "serious" violations lead to automatic CDL disqualification if you receive multiple convictions within a three-year period:


    • Two violations in 3 years: 60-day disqualification.
    • Three violations in 3 years: 120-day disqualification. Serious violations include: Excessive speeding (15+ mph over), reckless driving, improper lane changes, following too closely, and texting while driving.

  • 3. Does a DUI in my personal car affect my CDL?

    Yes. Under Florida law, if you are convicted of a DUI while operating any vehicle (even your personal truck or car), you face a mandatory one-year disqualification of your CDL for a first offense. A second DUI conviction—regardless of the vehicle type

    —will result in a lifetime ban from holding a CDL.

  • 4. What is the "Move Over Law" update for 2025?

    Florida has expanded its Move Over Law. Drivers are now required to move over a lane (or slow to 20 mph below the speed limit) for any stationary vehicle on the roadside displaying hazard lights or emergency flares.

    • The Risk: For CDL holders, these tickets add points to your license and reflect poorly on your CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) score, which freight brokers and insurers monitor closely.

  • 5. Can I attend Traffic School to remove points from my CDL?

    No. Under federal and Florida law, "masking" a conviction via traffic school or a "withhold of adjudication" is generally prohibited for CDL holders.


    | The Strategy: Because you cannot simply "hide" the ticket after a conviction, the only way to protect your record is to fight the ticket in court to have it dismissed or reduced to a non-moving, non-reportable offense.

  • 6. Why should I hire an attorney instead of just paying the fine?

    Paying the fine is an automatic admission of guilt. For a professional driver, this results in:

    • Points on your driving record.
    • CSA Point increases for your carrier.
    • Insurance hikes that may make you uninsurable.
    • Potential job loss if your company has a "zero-tolerance" policy for serious violations. We challenge the evidence—from radar calibration to officer testimony—to keep your record clean.

Protect Your Rig. Protect Your Income.

At the Law Office of Irvin Daphnis, we understand that for a trucker, "sitting on the bench" for 60 days isn't an option. We provide aggressive defense for CDL holders at the Duval County Courthouse and throughout Florida.