Your Driving Privileges: Suspensions And Revocations To Know About

Posted on: 2 July 2021

Driving privileges can disappear in an instant. One of the main punishments for those charged with driving under the influence (DUI) is to take away the right to drive legally. That usually happens right after the arrest—even before the defendant is convicted. Getting that license back is of prime importance. To find out what could happen to your driver's license after a DUI arrest, read on.

Suspensions and Revocations: What to Know

Losing your right to drive can be devastating but there are levels to that devastation to understand, with one being much worse than the other. When it comes to punishments, a suspension is considered temporary. Revocations, however, are reserved for more serious offenders and can be permanent. That doesn't mean you won't ever be able to drive after a DUI arrest, though, particularly if you hire a private DUI defense lawyer to help you with the complexities of your case.

Understanding Suspensions

State law applies to DUI issues and almost all states have a department of motor vehicles (DMV) that is separate from the judicial system. For those arrested for DUI, that means having to deal with both the state prosecutor and the DMV separately. While things vary from place to place, suspensions can be limited to a few weeks or up to as much as a year or so. This is a case in which a lawyer is extremely valuable because they can help you apply for what is known as a hardship license. If you need to drive for limited purposes, you might be issued a limited license to go to work, school, grocery shopping, medical appointments, and to take your children places. In most cases, this license covers drivers during certain times of the day, certain days, and under very limited circumstances.

Understanding Revocations

Revocations are uncommon and reserved for those who have multiple offenses. Very few revocations are ever reversed but it is possible to obtain a license after a few years of good behavior in rare cases. Aggravated DUI situations may call for a revocation and that may happen when the defendant is also accused of endangering lives. Accidents related to the DUI charge in which a death or serious injury occurs can result in a revocation.

By speaking to a criminal defense attorney about your case, you can impact your case in a major way. DUI arrests are not set in stone and can often be plea-bargained down to lesser charges. You can also cope better with the DMV and driver's license issues with an attorney's help. 

Contact a criminal lawyer in your area for more information.

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