San Diego Suspended Driver's License Attorney

These days, being able to drive your own car is almost a necessity in order to go where you want, when you want. But it’s possible to lose that freedom.

Do you have a suspended license due to an administrative license suspension? Are you facing a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) hearing? Have you received an order of suspension? Are you facing a competency hearing? You need experienced San Diego suspended license attorney Elliott Kanter on your side.

We’ll fight to get your driving privileges back so you can drive to all the places you need to go in San Diego County – like work, home, the doctor, and to your children’s school. Protect your livelihood. Call The Law Office of Elliott Kanter for a no-cost, no-obligation legal consultation.

Why Licenses are Revoked

Certain offenses in California will lead to suspension of your license as one of the penalties involved. However, many persons make the mistake of assuming that only a DUI conviction will result in a license suspension. You can actually lose your driver’s license, even for non-traffic-related offenses.

• DUI: If you’re caught behind the wheel after drinking, you will be charged with DUI and your driving permission is revoked unless you can successfully fight the suspension in DMV hearings. If you have a prior DUI on your record, the penalties are even higher.

• Accumulating Excessive Points: The DMV maintains a record of all your traffic convictions using what is known as the Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS). If you get too many points within a short period, your permission can be revoked, at least for a while.

• Not Having Proof of Financial Responsibility: Every driver is required to have insurance. If you don’t, you can lose your license. If you are involved in an accident, the DMV will check with your insurance company to verify that you were adequately covered at the time of the accident. If you weren’t, the DMV will suspend your license for one year.

• Drinking Before You Turn 21: If you’re caught drinking before you’re 21, you will lose your permission for one year or until you turn 18, whichever is later.

• Refusing a Drug or Alcohol Test: If you’re pulled over to the side of the road by a police officer, you must take a drug or alcohol test if an officer asks you. If you refuse to get an alcohol or drug test, you could have your permit suspended even if you were innocent and not impaired at the time.
• Vandalism: If you are convicted of vandalism, you will lose your permit for a year.

• Failing to Respond to a Traffic Ticket: When you receive a traffic ticket, you have to either pay the fine or appear in court. If you are required to appear in court for a traffic ticket and fail to do so, your license may be suspended.
• Child Support: In some cases, you may also have your license suspended if you fail to pay child support.

To avoid a license suspension after being arrested for any of these offenses, speak with a San Diego criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. If you have already had your license suspended, seek representation from a criminal defense attorney to discuss the possibility of a restricted license.

What is a Restricted License?

Many motorists in the state of California make the mistake of thinking that license suspension is a light penalty of DUIs or other violations of the law. License suspension can involve severe hardship, and make it difficult for you to go to work, or go to college. However, you can in some cases, be eligible to apply for a restricted permit.

In some cases, and depending on the circumstances involved, you may be able to get a restricted license that allows you to travel to and from certain places. A restricted license will allow you to drive to and from work. A restricted license will also allow you to drive to and from any treatment programs or community service appointments you may have been sentenced to as a result of the violation.

How to Get a Restricted License

If your license has been suspended because of a DUI, and you have a noncommercial license, you may get a restricted permit if you provide proof of your enrollment in the alcohol treatment program.

However, you may be able to get the permit only after completing a 30-day mandatory suspension. Even after a first-time DUI, you may have your permit suspended for a mandatory period of 30 days. Your restricted license may be able to help you travel to certain places for the next 4 to 5 months. However, the suspension period could last even longer. Speak to a suspended license lawyer for help after your permit is suspended.

However, applying and getting a restricted permit is not easy. You must apply for the permit, and meet other requirements. You will also have to pay a reissue fee.

Speak to a lawyer about applying for a restricted permit when your original permit has been suspended. The restricted permit will serve some purpose until your original license is reinstated.

Hiring a Lawyer to Help with a Suspended License

You need a lawyer familiar with nuances of the DMV system. If you are dealing with a suspension, revocation, or re-examination, you need an experienced attorney who can assist you through the very confusing DMV process. You can’t simply just walk into court and hope for the best. You need an attorney who understands the nuances of the law. There are many times when a charge for a suspended license has been incorrectly filed. Police officers and prosecutors are very busy and frequently make mistakes. An experienced suspended license attorney will easily be able to spot a mistake and know how to address it so your license suspension is dismissed.

Our attorneys have over 40 years of experience defending clients in various types of felony and misdemeanor cases. Some of our lawyers’ practice areas include juvenile charges, probation violation, possession of drugs, fraud, assault and battery, theft, elder abuse, driving under the influence, driving with a suspended license, domestic violence, sex crimes, and drug crimes. So don’t delay in contacting The Law Office of Elliott Kanter by phone or email at ekanter@enkanter.com for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. Give us a call today and we’ll get started on improving your situation.