How You Can Get A Hardship License After A DUI
One thing you can expect after getting a DUI is receiving a letter from the BMV notifying you that your driver's license is suspended or revoked. This is almost guaranteed after a DUI occurs, and it can be devastating to lose your driving privileges. The good news, though, is that there is a chance you might qualify to get a hardship license, which would allow you to continue driving, and here are several things to know about this.
What a hardship license is
A hardship license offers driving privileges to you on a limited basis. When approved for this, it means that you have the legal right to drive to work and home each day. It may also offer the legal right to drive other places that are necessary for your life, as long as they are approved. For example, you might be able to drive your kids to activities or to school, and you might be able to drive to church, doctor appointments, and important meetings. With this license, you may have a curfew to follow, and you are not allowed to use it to drive simply for pleasure. In other words, it has limits, conditions, and rules you must follow. Breaking any of these can result in the loss of the hardship license privileges.
Factors that affect your ability to get approved
In order to get a hardship license, you must apply for it, and the easiest way to do this is by hiring a DUI lawyer to do it for you. The lawyer will apply for it on your behalf if there is a chance you could get approved for one, and there are factors used in determining this. For example, if this is your first DUI charge, there is a good chance you will be able to get approved for a hardship license. If this is not your first DUI, there is a very low chance you could get one.
There might also be a waiting period in place that restricts you from getting approved for a hardship license right away after getting the DUI charge. If you are approved, you might also be required to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle at your expense. This is not required in all states, but it is in some.
If you need help getting your driving privileges back or fighting a DUI charge, you should contact a law firm that offers DUI attorney services in your area.