Driver's License Restoration in Florida
Protecting Your Driving Privileges After an Arrest
When individuals are arrested for
DUI, their license is automatically suspended. However, most people do not
realize that they may still have the opportunity to drive with a hardship
license. Also known as a restricted license, this is a temporary license
that allows you to drive to and from work while your license is suspended.
You must file for a hardship license within 10 days of the arrest. To
obtain the license, you must take an examination and pay a fee.
This is an essential step toward restoring your driving privileges, and
it ensures that your DUI does not further affect your job and financial
stability. Your ability to file for a restricted license depends on your
offense, as well as how many points you have on your record. Our Tampa
DUI defense attorneys may get you informed about your legal situation
and help you protect your future driving privileges in a DHSMV hearing.
When you work with Parks & Braxton, PA, you gain access to the following:
- 50+ years of collective legal experience
- Offices available for calls 24/7, weekends and holidays
- Attorneys AV® rated by Martindale-Hubbell®
- A firm featured on ABC, NBC, MSNBC, and more
DHSMV License Suspension Hearings
A vital step in getting your driver's license restored is requesting
a formal or informal hearing with the Florida DMV. These hearings are
separate from any criminal charge you may be facing—they only deal
with the suspension of your driver's license. During these hearings,
you may have the opportunity to prevent your driver's license from
being suspended.
In an
informal hearing, an officer reviews the materials surrounding your DUI arrest, and usually
does not require witness testimony or the arresting officer's presence.
The final decision of an informal hearing is submitted within 21 days
of the individual's hardship license expiring. In contrast, a
formal hearing includes witness testimonies and presentation of additional evidence.
Our DUI lawyers in Tampa are here to help with DHSMV hearings. Contact us today!
The DUI charge affects your license restoration!
Receiving too many points on your driving record from DUI and other traffic
citations may result in the Florida DHSMV suspending your license, even
if your DUI charge was in another state. If you are arrested for DUI or
refuse to take a breath or blood test, this may be grounds for automatic
suspension. The length of a license suspension depends on the individual
situation. Generally, if DUI charges do not occur within five years of
each other, the driver's license is suspended for 180 days to one year.
However, a second DUI charge within five years of the first charge can
result in a five-year suspension. A third DUI charge within ten years
of a previous DUI can result in a ten-year suspension. Four or more DUI
charges can result in ten or more years of license suspension. If the
DUI accident resulted in injuries or death to another person, then the
suspension may be more severe, or even permanent. Immediately following
a DUI arrest, schedule a hearing with the DHSMV and contact our Tampa
DUI lawyers. The sooner you take action and retain experienced legal guidance,
the better chance you may have of restoring your driving privileges.
Schedule a free case evaluation
with Parks & Braxton, PA today!