Challenging a DUI License Suspension in Baltimore

If your license has been revoked upon a DUI conviction, you may not be out of options. Challenging a DUI license suspension in Baltimore may be possible with the help of a DUI lawyer. A skilled attorney could help you maintain your mode of transportation to meet your daily obligations.

How Could a Defendant Challenge a DUI License Suspension?

The best way to challenge the suspension could be to file a request for an administrative hearing. On the back of a temporary license that an officer administers, there is typically a form that affords a person the opportunity to request the Motor Vehicle Administration for an administrative hearing. Any potential suspension of their privilege to drive is typically stayed until the hearing takes place or held in abeyance so that a proper case may be put on before an administrative law judge to determine whether a suspension is appropriate and that they have a case to support it.

What Happens if the Person Decides Not to Challenge the Suspension?

If the person decides not to challenge the suspension of a license, their license will be suspended. While they may have some opportunities for modifying suspension if they do not request a hearing by way of participating in the ignition interlock program, it may be important to speak to an attorney who understands the nuances of Motor Vehicle Administration hearings. Even if somebody does not intend to challenge the suspension, it could be important to request a hearing to ask for a potential modification to that suspension. Modifications could include work-restricted licenses that allow a person to drive for academic purposes or medical appointments.

Practiced lawyers could assist defendants in challenging a DUI license suspension in Baltimore. If a license revocation is not reversible, a traffic attorney who understands what those modifications are and when they are permitted could be important in making sure that one preserves their ability to drive.

Understanding the Hearing Process

When someone requests a hearing with the Motor Vehicle Administration, that request could typically be mailed in. A filing fee of $150 is also required. When the Motor Vehicle Administration receives the fee, they could hold any suspension in abeyance until that hearing is concluded. While the hearing is typically scheduled anywhere from 30 days to three months from the time that the hearing is requested.

Once that hearing is scheduled, different procedures and strategies could be employed by the defense attorney after reviewing discovery to figure out what the best option is for resolution of the case. This may depend on what kinds of arguments are going to be made on behalf of the defendant. If a person is planning on attending a hearing to challenge a DUI license suspension in Baltimore, consulting a seasoned attorney’s may be beneficial.

Obtaining a Restricted License in Baltimore

There are only two kinds of restricted licenses available. If a person has an alcohol level of below 0.15, they could be eligible for a restricted driver’s license that may allow them to drive for work purposes, school purposes, alcohol education purposes, or medical appointments. If they have an alcohol level of above 0.15 or refuse to take a breath test, they could qualify for a restricted driver’s license if they have an ignition interlock placed on their vehicle for a mandated period of time, which is typically a minimum of 12 months.

Obtaining a County ID Card After a License Suspension

Seeking an ID card is typically straightforward. A person could appear at the Motor Vehicle Administration, present required identifying information, and be issued an ID card for a fee of around $15. Identifying information may include a passport, a birth certificate or things of that nature. The ID card will look almost exactly like a driver’s license but will not be a privilege to drive; it will simply be an official government ID that somebody can use for things like travel. If a person is trying to board a plane, it is typically up to the standards of TSA.

Individuals may need to ensure they contact the Motor Vehicle Administration or look online on the Motor Vehicle Administration’s website to find out certain information. This may include the parameters of being able to hold an official ID that is state-issued, where one could obtain it, whether they need to go to a full-service MVA or to a satellite MVA, and what paperwork or credentials they may need to bring. Individuals could avoid wasting time traveling there and not being authorized to proceed by checking they have all the necessary documents and information upon arrival.

Call a Baltimore DUI attorney to begin challenging a DUI license suspension in Baltimore. An attorney could explain your rights and legal options.