In many states it is a criminal offense (DUI/DWI) to operate a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of .04 or more—which is half of the BAC usually required to commit the DUI/DWI offense while driving a non-commercial vehicle. Because most holders of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) depend on their license to earn a living, the consequences of a DUI/DWI conviction for a CDL holder—including a conviction while operating a non-commercial vehicle—are serious.

Laws vary from state to state but a CDL holder’s license may be suspended for one year for the first offense, and with a second DUI/DWI conviction the CDL holder may be permanently disqualified from holding a CDL.

These laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the vehicle code, motor vehicle code, or transportation code.

In Alaska, it is indeed a criminal offense for a person to operate a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .04 or higher, which is in line with federal regulations. This limit is lower than the .08 BAC standard for non-commercial drivers. For holders of a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), the consequences of a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) conviction are severe, whether the offense occurs in a commercial or non-commercial vehicle. Upon a first DUI conviction, a CDL holder in Alaska faces a one-year disqualification from operating a commercial vehicle. If a CDL holder is convicted of a second DUI, they may be permanently disqualified from holding a CDL. These regulations are designed to promote safety on the roads and to hold commercial drivers to a higher standard due to the potential consequences of operating larger vehicles under the influence of alcohol. The specific laws governing DUI offenses for CDL holders in Alaska can be found in the state's vehicle or transportation codes.