Driver’s License Revocation & Restoration

The ability to have transportation to work or school can be vital for the care and support of one’s family. As a result, a revoked driver’s license must be taken very seriously. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, our criminal defense attorneys will provide those clients facing license revocation with quality representation in order to prevent their licenses from being revoked or suspended.

In many cases, our attorneys may be able to prove that there is no reason for a client to lose his or her license at all. We will work to have your charges reduced or even dropped completely. If your license has already been revoked or suspended, we will focus our efforts on having your license reinstated at the earliest possible time. Our experienced attorneys can have your case re-opened through a Motion for Appropriate Relief or a DMV hearing. In either event, our attorneys will present evidence about your case and advocate on your behalf before a judge or hearing officer.

A new statute in North Carolina has allowed for the revocation of a learner’s permit or license for anyone less than 18 years of age. Under this law, any minor charged with a criminal moving violation can be taken before the magistrate and have his or her driving privileges revoked immediately. As a result, individuals who are charged with speeding over 80 mph or any other criminal moving violation can have their license taken away. Under this new law, it is extremely important that you seek legal advice from a qualified criminal defense attorney.

If you have had your license revoked or are facing charges that may lead to revocation, contact Arnold & Smith, PLLC immediately and let our attorneys fight for you.

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is a very powerful agency that has the authority to suspend your license. Once the DMV has decided to revoke your license, in some cases, you might have the opportunity to have a DMV hearing conducted to prevent that suspension from going into effect or to determine whether you can have your driving privileges reinstated. At these hearings, you are allowed to have an attorney present and it may greatly increase your chances of getting your license back. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, our attorneys are experienced in successfully representing clients at these hearings. We will present important information to the DMV about the specific facts of your case and we may also submit witness testimony or proof of completion of your sentence or treatment.

Examples of DMV hearings include:

• Driving While License Revoked Hearing – Each time a person is convicted of a moving violation while their driving privilege is revoked, the DMV will revoke their driving privilege. When a person has 3 or more moving violations during a period of revocation, their license will be permanently revoked and can only request a restoration of that driving privilege after three years. Our attorneys can help you both secure a limited driving privilege if you have been convicted of driving with a revoked license and eventually restore your license.

• Post-DWI Restoration Hearing – If you have been convicted of DWI 3 or more times, your license will be suspended permanently. However, our attorneys can help you make sure that permanently does not mean forever. Through submitting paperwork and presenting your case to a DMV officer, we can help you get your driving privileges back.

• DWI Refusal Hearing- North Carolina’s implied consent law requires every driver to submit to either a breath or blood analysis if they are charged with Driving While Impaired. If a driver is charged with refusing to provide a blood or breath sample, their license can be revoked for one year. However, if you have been charged with refusing to abide by this implied consent law, you have the right to request a hearing to challenge that suspension, and time is of the essence in exerting that right. At Arnold & Smith, PLLC, our attorneys will help fight your refusal revocation and represent you at a DMV hearing.

• Medical Hearing – The North Carolina DMV has the ability to take away someone’s license for a medical condition. In these circumstances, you have the right to a DMV hearing in order to retain your privilege to drive. Our experienced attorneys can help prove that you are a safe and responsible driver by presenting accurate and convincing information about your condition.

Our experienced criminal defense attorneys are on your side. With extensive experience we are prepared to help our clients restore their driving privileges. Do not hesitate to contact us today and let us protect or restore your driving privilege.

Other possible reasons that a driver’s license may be suspended include:

• Failure to appear in court
• DWI charges
• Failure to pay traffic tickets or other citations
• Failure to pay court costs and fines
• Failure to complete necessary requirements to restore a driving privilege

In any case, the loss of one’s driver’s license will have an extreme impact and could influence one’s ability to be employed. If you are seeking a license restoration, do not hesitate to contact our experienced attorneys today. We will review the specific facts of your case and help place you in the position to have your license restored. Whether in court or at a DMV hearing, our attorneys are prepared to fight for you.