Fort Lauderdale DUI defense lawyer for license suspensionThe strict laws in Florida make it mandatory that those charged with drunk driving face a driver’s license suspension, however you may obtain a hardship license. The law changes that went into effect on July 1, 2013 modified these rules, though. Keep reading to learn all about the DUI license suspension laws in Florida and how an experienced Fort Lauderdale DUI defense lawyer can help with your case.

The Florida DUI License Suspension Laws

Now, drivers that are pulled over for a DUI will have an unrestricted 10-day license after their arrests. Drivers are permitted to request a hearing to challenge the suspension and must do so within 10 days, ideally with the help of an experienced Fort Lauderdale DUI lawyer.

Drivers arrested for DUI may receive a hardship or Business Purposes Only (BPO) license while awaiting the hearing, which allows them to drive to and from:

  • work;
  • school;
  • the doctor; and
  • any religious institution.

If the suspension order is dismissed at the hearing, the individual will be issued an unrestricted license. With the latest DUI license suspension laws, if the driver loses the hearing and the license suspension holds, he or she will face a 30-day hard suspension period if chemical testing revealed BAC of .08 or above, or a 90-day hard suspension period if the driver refused the testing. After this hard suspension, the driver may request a BPO license.

But if the driver does not challenge the suspension, he or she will not have to wait to drive under a BPO license. According to our Fort Lauderdale DUI defense lawyer, this effectively eliminates the hard suspension period during which drivers had to wait to obtain BPO license privileges.

Which Option Should You Choose?

Whether you decide to challenge the suspension or forfeit your right to challenge it and get a BPO license right away is a decision you should discuss with your Fort Lauderdale DUI defense lawyer. The benefit to challenging is obviously that you could regain unrestricted driving privileges, though you may end up serving a hard suspension period if you are unsuccessful at the hearing.

Meanwhile, waiving the right to request the hearing allows you to obtain BPO privileges right away without serving a hard suspension. This can help ensure no interruption to your ability to drive to and from work and school, as well as doctor’s appointments or religious institutions.

Drivers in Fort Lauderdale who are facing DUI charges should seek help from a DUI defense attorney. Go over these choices with your attorney, and start building your case against the drunk driving charges you face. This is separate from the administrative license suspension hearing.

Fort Lauderdale DUI Defense Lawyer for Drunk Driving Charges in Florida

If you have been charged with drunk driving and have questions about your license suspension options or need help building a solid defense, contact our office online or call (954) 861-0384 to schedule a free, no-cost case evaluation with our Fort Lauderdale DUI defense lawyer, Robert David Malove.