In New York, those convicted of alcohol-related offenses face harsh penalties. If you operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% you will be charged with driving while under the influence (DUI). Depending on whether you have any previous or subsequent convictions and what your BAC level was, the penalties for this offense will vary in severity. One of the more serious penalties you will likely be subject to is the loss of your driving privileges through license suspension or revocation. If your license is suspended or revoked, you will not be allowed to operate a vehicle until the terms of your suspension or revocation period are over. Losing your driving privileges can negatively impact your life in many ways including not being able to get to and from work to earn a living. If your license has been suspended or revoked as a result of a DUI, you may be wondering how you can regain your driver’s license back. Continue following along to learn how you can get your driver’s license back after a DUI charge and how a determined Rockland County DUI Attorney can help you today.
Does New York offer a hardship or conditional driver’s license to those convicted of DUI?
If you are facing charges for a DUI, you should expect to lose your driving privileges. Regardless of whether this is your first offense, you may be subject to a revoked license for at least 6 months. As mentioned above, the loss of driving privileges can disturb your life. Fortunately, for those convicted of DUI, New York offers hardship or conditional licenses. A hardship license allows individuals to operate a vehicle with restricted driving privileges. Those that hold a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and are charged with DUI are not eligible for this type of conditional license. To qualify for a hardship license, you must apply in person at the DMV. In addition, you must complete an Impaired Driver Program (IDP) and complete any treatment recommended by the court. If you qualify for a hardship license, you could get your driving privileges back. However, you have certain limitations on when and where you can drive.
Under what circumstances can I drive with a hardship license?
Furthermore, if you qualify for a hardship license, you will have to comply with the conditions of the license, meaning you may only drive under the following circumstances:
- To and from your place of employment.
- During the hours of work if your place of employment requires you to drive a vehicle as part of your duties and responsibilities.
- To and from a medical examination or treatment for you or a member of your family, you need a written statement from your licensed doctor.
- To and from a child’s daycare or school.
- To and from a mandatory class that is an authorized program for alcohol and drug rehabilitation.
- To and from a class at an accredited school, college, or university.
- To and from the DMV for business regarding your alcohol rehabilitation program or license.
- To and from court-ordered probation activities.
- For a three-hour consecutive daytime period (between 5 am and 9 pm once a week) on a day on which you are not engaged in your usual employment.
In the unfortunate event that you are charged with DUI, it is imperative to retain the legal services of one of our trusted and skilled attorneys. Our firm is committed to helping protect our client’s driving privileges. Contact us today to learn how we can help you obtain a hardship license after a DUI charge.
