Awards & Media Appearances
Why a CDL stop in Galveston is different from a routine DWI 
Galveston’s waterfront economy runs on trucks, drayage, and overnight port calls. A stop on Harborside Drive or TX-275 can start like any other traffic pull-over and end with two cases against you at once: a criminal DWI in Galveston County and a DPS administrative case that can disqualify your commercial privilege. The rules tighten for professional drivers. When you are operating a commercial motor vehicle, Texas treats a 0.04 BAC as the per se threshold, and a refusal or reported test failure can trigger a disqualification even before any courtroom hearing. The stakes are larger than a fine or probation. Losing your CDL, even temporarily, can sideline you from runs, void contracts, and affect insurance with your carrier. The first 24–48 hours after the stop: decisions that protect your livelihood
Time matters more for CDL holders. If you received a notice of suspension or disqualification, mark the response deadline immediately and get counsel moving on a hearing request. Waiting can convert a temporary notice into a hard suspension that keeps you out of the driver’s seat. Preserve everything: the tow sheet, body-cam incident number, any ELD or telematics data that shows hours, speed, braking, and location, and the shipping paperwork that explains why you were where you were. These records often clarify driving behavior and timing around the stop and can be vital in both negotiations and at a hearing.The Zendeh Del & Associates, PLLC Team
What officers look for near the port and how that plays into your defense
Patrols around port approaches and late-night corridors often watch for lane deviations, hard braking, missed signals, and truck-only violations such as restricted lanes or overweight routes. Field sobriety tests are not designed with fatigue, steel-toe boots, or roadside conditions in mind. Wet pavement, high winds off the bay, and uneven shoulders can influence performance. Breath testing can be affected by timing relative to duty status, recent meals, reflux, or residual mouth alcohol. Each of these issues can open a line of defense when examined with video, dispatch logs, and the machine’s maintenance records. Our team uses those pieces to question whether there was valid reasonable suspicion to stop, whether detention lasted longer than necessary, and whether any test was administered and recorded according to protocol. For context on reasonable-suspicion challenges in DWI stops, see the firm’s analysis of traffic-stop law at https://www.galvestonjustice.com/blog/officer-didnt-have-reasonable-suspicion-for-dwi-stop/.How Texas handles the two-track process for CDL drivers
A Galveston case usually moves on two tracks. One track is the criminal charge in county court, where outcomes range from dismissal to reduction to a conviction carrying fines, classes, and potential jail. The other track is administrative: DPS moves to suspend or disqualify your commercial privilege based on an alleged refusal or test result. Those hearings are winnable, and even when the evidence is thin, the hearing preserves testimony and documents we can use to evaluate the stop and testing. For CDL drivers, a first disqualification can be a year, longer if the load contained hazardous materials, and a second can lead to a lifetime bar with limited possibilities for reinstatement. Because you make your living behind the wheel, the strategy must address both tracks from day one.Client
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These guys are amazing. They made a most horrific experience bearable. They treated me with respect and no judgment. I cannot describe how grateful I am for their representation with my case. 5 stars is not enough. I hope I never need them again but would ABSOLUTELY use them again and definitely recommend them.
— Jennifer S.
Jonathan Zendeh Del and Associates worked tirelessly on my case. They kept me informed every step of the way. In the end the got my case dismissed and I am so grateful that we out our trust in his law firm. I can honestly say the rumors were true. He really is the best.
— Kristin F.
Key differences when you were in a commercial motor vehicle versus a personal vehicle
In a CMV, the 0.04 standard applies. Outside a CMV, the general 0.08 standard applies, yet CDL consequences can still attach to an arrest stemming from a personal vehicle. That nuance confuses many drivers. The bottom line is that a “regular car” stop can still threaten the credential you need for work, and the defense plan should account for that risk while we pursue criminal-case defenses in court.How an experienced Galveston defense team builds a CDL-focused strategy
Start with the stop. We request and review the dash and body video, CAD logs, and radio traffic to verify the reason for the encounter and how long you were detained before testing began. We map the scene, lighting, shoulder slope, and surface conditions. We check footwear and medical issues that influence balance tests, and we challenge instructions and scoring if they departed from training. On breath results, we pull the instrument’s maintenance records, solution certifications, and operator credentials. On blood results, we look for chain-of-custody gaps and storage temperature swings. On both, we test timing, rising BAC, and any delays that undercut reliability. The firm’s library of local issues around no-refusal weekends, warrant practices, and blood-draw logistics can be useful too; see the discussion of “no-refusal” operations affecting Galveston drivers at https://www.galvestonjustice.com/blog/galveston-biker-weekend-dwi-dui-no-refusal-blood-draw/.What you can do now to strengthen your defense and protect your credential
Document your schedule surrounding the stop, including dispatch times, rest periods, meals, and any medications. Identify witnesses who saw you load, unload, or interact shortly before the stop. Save gas and scale receipts, gate logs, and any port badges or timestamps that verify movements. If you hold endorsements, bring those certificates. If you are in a union or leased to a carrier, keep your representative in the loop so we can coordinate on compliance and driver-qualification file issues. These steps help us defend both your freedom and your work status.Case Results
Understanding potential outcomes and career impact
A CDL case is not binary. Paths include dismissal, a reduction to a non-alcohol offense, pretrial diversion, or a negotiated outcome that avoids the consequences that trigger disqualification. Every path aims at the same goal: keep you employable. Even where a suspension cannot be avoided, the objective is to shorten it, time it strategically, and position you to return to work with the least disruption possible. Some employers care not only about the legal outcome but also about safety metrics and internal policies. We address those concerns by gathering training records, roadside inspection history, and prior clean audits to present a fuller picture of you as a professional driver.Scenarios we see around the port and how they resolve
Late-night chassis runs that pass through brief construction zones often lead to lane-deviation stops. Drivers wearing work boots struggle on the imaginary line painted by headlights. Video helps show the wind, the grade, and the surface so a judge understands why those steps looked unsteady. Early-morning container pickups after long off-duty periods sometimes produce breath samples close to the 0.04 limit in a CMV; timing evidence can show that absorption and elimination rates made the peak occur after driving ended. A personal-vehicle stop after a long shift can threaten your CDL even when you were off dispatch; the defense plan must account for that specialized risk. The common thread is that tailored evidence, not guesswork, moves results.Deadlines and the practical rhythm of a Galveston CDL case
Expect the administrative hearing to be scheduled weeks before the criminal court resolves. That schedule can work in your favor. Witnesses testify early, reports are produced, and cross-examination can reveal gaps we use later. When your family depends on your route pay, we look for ways to align continuances, training requirements, and court appearances with your schedule to reduce lost income. Communication with your safety department matters too, since many carriers will ask for status updates while cases are pending.Where to find trustworthy local information while you wait for court
If you want background reading from an established Galveston defense team while your matter is pending, the firm’s resource library is a good starting point at https://www.galvestonjustice.com/blog/. That library includes stop-law analysis and discussions of “no-refusal” operations that frequently appear around holiday weekends. When you are ready to talk about your specific situation, direct contact is the safest way to avoid misunderstandings and protect your rights with a tailored plan.Why local experience in Galveston County courtrooms can shift the outcome
Every courthouse has its rhythm. A team that practices in Galveston understands how local agencies write reports, how video is stored and retrieved, what a typical docket looks like, and how to position a case for reduction or dismissal. Zendeh Del & Associates PLLC is based in Galveston, serves clients across the county, and offers free consultations so you can understand your options before you make decisions that affect your license and career.Ways a defense team helps you keep earning while the case moves forward
Professional drivers think in terms of uptime. We think that way too. Your plan may include steps that satisfy employer and insurer concerns, such as voluntary counseling, documented safe-driving refreshers, or equipment-specific training relevant to your route. When appropriate, we provide status letters for your safety manager that explain what has and hasn’t happened in court so no one assumes the worst. A clear, step-by-step plan you can follow today- Protect the administrative deadline by requesting the hearing promptly so you don’t lose rights by default.
- Preserve evidence immediately, including ELD data, video request numbers, and paperwork from the stop.
- Call a Galveston defense team that handles CDL matters and map the courtroom path and the license path together.
- Keep your carrier informed as needed, especially if you expect scheduling conflicts.
- Do not self-diagnose the case or talk about it with co-workers, dispatch, or on social media. Direct every question to your lawyer so your rights stay intact.