If you rely on your driving license for work or to support your family, then a license suspension can feel like a heavy cross to bear. The disruption from a DUI charge can cause irreparable damage if it results in the loss of a license.
Not only can a DUI get your license revoked or suspended, but a DUI charge can also cost well into the tens of thousands of dollars. Shouldering costs like that will set your attempts to get a license back even further.
If you’re looking down the barrel of these life-changing charges, it doesn’t mean the end of the world. There may still be a way to keep your license.
The Severity of DUI Charges
The unfortunate reality of the situation is that conviction of a DUI charge means your license will be under suspension. You’re looking at a minimum suspension of 185 days, and a maximum of 3 years. The determining component will be the severity of the charge, as well as a few other factors.
The first factor taken under consideration by the prosecution will be whether it is your first offense. If you haven’t received a DUI in the last seven years, you’ll be looking at somewhere close to the minimum suspension.
Other factors involve the exact situation in which you ended up under arrest. The law will look at somebody driving with a high alcohol level with a far harsher gaze. If you’re in that situation, the license will be under automatic suspension.
A lot of DUI cases aren’t as severe as the above example, though. Even falling asleep in your car whilst intoxicated can be grounds for a DUI charge in some states.
If the situation isn’t too serious, there is potential for reduced charges.
Avoiding License Suspension
There are a few options for avoiding a suspended license, but most of them depend on the state that you live in.
For example, in California, you can continue to drive under a suspended license until you receive a notice of the suspension. A court must present proof that you received this from the DMV, otherwise, you can still drive.
A lot of these solutions rely on dancing a thin, questionably legal line.
The best way to avoid a suspended license is to hire an experienced lawyer. This way you have a good shot at getting reduced charges. For example, a DUI case from Hardy Law might see a DUI turn into a reckless driving charge.
It’s hard to stress how important this could be. If your employment requires you to hold a separate license to drive commercial vehicles, it could also be at risk.
A good lawyer is ultimately your best bet at avoiding both the suspension and any other charges.
Staying on the Right Side of the Law
The best way to avoid a license suspension, or any other disruptive charges, is to stay informed of the law. It’s not always that easy, but arming yourself with knowledge never hurts.
If you want to read extra tips that might help you out in the legal world, read more of our blog! There are plenty of articles that might serve you well, whether it’s a DMV hearing or something else!
Nicole Ann Pore is a writer, an events host and a voice over artist. Travel, health, shopping, lifestyle and business are among the many subjects she writes about. Through quality and well-researched writing, she informs and even entertains readers about things that matter. She is also interested in film critiquing and filmmaking. Giving all the glory to God, Nicole graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts.
