If you have been arrested for driving under the influence, even if this is your first offense, your driving privilege is in peril. In almost all cases, following a DUI arrest, a driver is given an ALS (Administrative License Suspension), which automatically suspends driving privileges for one year. However, you have ten days from the day of arrest to request a hearing where you have the right to fight this suspension. This matter is completely separate from criminal court, where you also face a sentence if convicted of driving under the influence, which may include suspension of driving privileges. Even for a first time offender, this suspension can be lengthy (up to one full year).
For subsequent offenders, the suspension could be much longer, or your license could be revoked. In the case of revocation, driving privileges are completely taken away by the Department of Driver Services for a longer period of time, such as 5 years. In addition, there are fees to license reinstatement that you must pay which are separate from the criminal fines for a conviction.
In this section, you will find more detailed information about what can happen to your driver's license after a first or subsequent DUI conviction, how you can fight your administrative license suspension, who is eligible for a limited driving permit, and more. It is difficult to make a general estimate regarding what the consequences to your driver's license may be without knowing more details particular to your situation, including your driving history and your current charges. If you or a loved one is facing DUI charges and are worried about your driver's license, please call me. After examining your history and the current charges, we can determine what is at stake regarding your driving privileges, and the best tactic we can take to preserve them.