What Happened to My Driver’s License and How Do I Get It Back?
If you are arrested for DWI and your Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) test at or above 0.08%, the Police Officer will clip your Driver’s License and give you a Notice and Order of Revocation of your Driver’s License (DL).
This Notice gives you a 7 day temporary license and then your DL is suspended.
In order to get back your license, you will have to jump through several hoops that may include:
First Offense:
Second Offence:
- All of the above
- Special review – you are required to sign a form indicating you shall have to jump through more hoops if you ever get another DWI
Third Offense or More:
If you accumulate enough offense you may be Cancelled as Inimical to Public Safety and not be able to get a license, or have your status changed to “B Card” which means ANY USE of alcohol will revoke your DL.
The length of the suspension depends on the charges against you.
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First DWI Offense: a 90 day suspension.
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Second DWI Offense: a 180 day suspension.
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Third DWI Offense: a 1 year suspension including proof of 1 year sobriety.
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Fourth DWI Offense: Possibly a 2 year suspension with proof of sobriety or being cancelled as Inimical to Public Safety or a B Card.
** All suspension periods double if you test shows a BAC of 0.20% or higher or if you are under the age of 21 when the DWI occurs. **
You can challenge the license suspension by filing a challenge in Civil District Court within 30 days of the revocation. If you fail to take this important step, you will not be able to challenge the suspension – no matter what the outcome of your DWI case!
We can protect your rights and help you try and avoid these harsh penalties.
How Can I Drive During The Suspension Period?
Once you are suspended you are required to serve a period of suspension before you apply for a work permit.
If it is your first offense, and your test BAC is under 0.20%, you have to serve 15 days of the suspension before you can apply for a work permit.
If you are caught driving during this time, you can be charged with Driving After Revocation, or Driving after Cancellation as Inimical to Public Safety or Violating a B Card restriction –all of which carry possible fines and jail time in addition to what you are facing with the DWI.
If it is your second offense or more, you may not be able to get a work permit for 3 months or more –and you might not be able to get one at all.
That is why it is so important to contact an attorney who can protect your rights!
Hennepin and Ramsey County Temporary Reinstatement of Full Driving Privileges
If you file a challenge to your license suspension, by statute your hearing must be within 60 days.
In Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, they do not give you a hearing within 60 days. You may therefore, in these two counties only, request temporary reinstatement of your driving privileges.
If this request is granted, your license would be completely restored with no restrictions pending the outcome of your case.
Minnesota DWI Defense lawyer Charles Segal is qualified to help you with your License Revocation Hearing and all other aspects of your case. He has the knowledge, resources and experience to fight for you and get you the best possible results.
Contact Minnesota Defense lawyer Charles R. Segal Immediately