Getting Your License Back Immediately After A DWI Charge
The first step in your custom case plan is to ensure that you can drive legally as quickly as possible after you are charged with a DWI while we plan how to fight your case.
If you submitted to a blood or breath test when you were charged with a DWI, you can lose your license for 30 days under what is called a civil revocation. After 30 days, you can go to the Guilford County Clerk’s office and pay a $100 fee to get your license returned. Your license will then remain active if we win your DWI case or until the day you are sentenced if you are convicted. If your or your family’s livelihood depends on you driving, however, 30 days may be too long to wait.
Fortunately, there is a way to get a pretrial limited privilege to drive after 10 days for work, maintenance of your home, doctor’s visits, and other exceptions. If you need a pretrial privilege to drive, we can help you as a part of your case. See the pretrial privilege checklist below.
If you refused a blood or breath test, the DMV will send you a letter stating that your license is suspended for a year. Sometimes, because the officer fails to timely turn in evidence of your refusal, that letter may not come for several months after you are charged. You may have already resolved your DWI case before you receive notice that your license is suspended due to refusing a chemical analysis test. When you get the letter from the DMV, give our office a call. You have options to delay or challenge that suspension in a DMV hearing.
Contact Aberle & Connolly, PLLC to learn more about getting your license back after being charged with DWI.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a limited pretrial driving privilege?
A limited pretrial driving privilege is a court order that allows you to drive within specific time periods for the limited purpose of work, school, worship, household maintenance, medical emergency, or participation in community service and substance abuse treatment. Click here to see what it looks like. It operates as a driver’s license, and you are required to carry it on your person while driving. Just because your license has been suspended, you may still have options to ensure you can get to work and provide for your family. Contact us to learn more.
What is a DWI assessment?
If you get convicted of a DWI, one of the things that you will have to do to get your full license reinstated is get a DWI assessment and comply with the recommended treatment. Both of these events will be reported to the DMV and you will never be able to get your license back after a conviction without them. You can do both the assessment and the treatment before your case is even resolved if you want to, and it can sometimes help you get a better sentence. The assessment refers to the initial interview that you have with a licensed facility, while the recommended treatment plan may include alcohol classes or outpatient/inpatient treatment. Getting a DWI assessment in advance is essential for getting a limited pretrial privilege to drive. It is best to bring a copy of your DWI citation with you when you go and the $100 assessment fee.
What is a DL-123 insurance form?
A DL-123 is a form that you can get from your insurance carrier that certifies that you have the minimum liability coverage required. The form is only good for 30 days from the date you receive it, so if we ask you to get us one for a limited driving privilege, you must ask your insurance company for one within 30 days before the court date.