Driving is a privilege that can be temporarily suspended or revoked in the event that certain crimes are committed. Among these crimes is driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. When a person drives their car a lot in their daily lives, dealing with a suspension is a massive inconvenience.
If you reside in Montgomery County, driving while your license is suspended due to a DUI has serious consequences. Fortunately, the county and state have presented options to make this suspension less of an inconvenience. However, you won't have access to these opportunities without the help of an experienced DUI criminal defense attorney.
DUI-Related License Suspension in Montgomery County
The majority of people who have been charged with a DUI in Montgomery County will be subjected to a mandatory license suspension. The length of this suspension is dependent on a number of factors, including the blood alcohol content level a person has, the quantity of drugs in their system, and their eligibility for state and county programs that can make a suspension more tolerable.
Occupational Licenses
Montgomery County drivers who've acquired a DUI and are facing a mandatory license suspension have the option of petitioning the court for an occupational license. This license permits motorists to drive their own vehicles to and from work during a license suspension. If the request is granted, this license will only be permitted 60 days after the initial suspension. Motorists who choose an alternative route, like entering an ARD program, will not be able to receive an occupational license.
Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) Program
ARD is a pre-trial diversionary program that is intended to direct non-violent, first-time criminal offenders away from the criminal justice system. This program gives a select demographic of individuals the opportunity to reduce or completely avoid the stiff penalties associated with a DUI, like jail time, the loss of driving privileges, and the creation of a criminal record. In order to complete ARD, each member who gains acceptance must successfully fulfill the terms they've been assigned. In this program, all terms that are to be completed are individually tailored to the changes acquired. For example, a person charged with a DUI may be required to attend an alcohol or drug treatment program, or a traffic school class.
Upon completion of the ARD program, a mandatory license suspension penalty may be reduced to a 30- or 60-day suspension, and the initial charges will be dismissed.
Montgomery County Criminal Defense Attorney
If you have been arrested and charged with a DUI in Montgomery County, and you are facing a mandatory license suspension, you should immediately contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. Our Criminal Law Team has many years of experience helping people in this position gain access to county and state programs, and to obtain an occupational license.
If you are caught driving with a DUI suspended license, our Criminal Law Team can help you reduce these charges to forgo the mandatory jail requirement and more. Contact us today for help.
