How Can I Get My Driving Privileges Back After Having My License Suspended?
Driving is a convenience that allows us to easily get from point a to point b every day. So when your driver’s license has been suspended, it can create difficulties for you to get to where you need to be. Luckily, you may be able to have your driving privileges restored after your license has been suspended.
What Can Cause a Driver’s License to be Suspended?
A driver’s license can be suspended for a number of reasons. A person may have their driver’s license suspended if they commit a crime. You don’t risk your driver’s license being suspended by committing just any crime, however. Typically, if you committed a crime involving a vehicle, you’ll likely face suspension of your driver’s license. This includes:
- Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Driving without car insurance or being underinsured
- Lying on an application for a commercial driver’s license
- Refusing a breathalyzer test
- Driving with a suspended license
- Committing vehicular manslaughter
- Committing a hit and run when the accident caused injury or death to someone else
You could also face suspension of your driver’s license for :
- Not paying your child support
- Giving alcohol to a minor
- Violating your probation
- Traffic violations resulting in an accumulation of demerit points
Some of these causes could result in the revocation of your driver’s license, which is the next step after suspension. When your driver’s license is revoked, your driving privileges are completely terminated by the Virginia Commonwealth.
How to Get Your Driver’s License Reinstated in Virginia
The steps to regain your driving privileges after having your license suspended differ based on whether your license was suspended in the Commonwealth of Virginia or another state. If your driver’s license was suspended in another state, you have to take the steps required in that state to have your driver’s license reinstated.
There are rules you have to abide by during the course of your driver’s license suspension. You might be required to take driver’s education courses or substance abuse programs. In some cases, you may have to wait a certain amount of time after your driver’s license is suspended to request to have your driving privileges reinstated.
Violating the rules of your driver’s license suspension could result in the revocation of your driving privileges. You should double-check the terms of your suspension by obtaining your Driver Transcript and Compliance Summary. You can request copies of these on the Virginia DMV website.
If you’re not able to apply to get your driver’s license reinstated, you may be able to request restricted driving privileges. Depending on the cause of the suspension, a court may grant you special driving privileges if needed to commute to places like work, school, doctor appointments, and child visitation.
If you’ve complied with the terms of your suspension and any other requirements, you may be able to apply to have your driving privileges reinstated. To get your driving privileges reinstated, you’ll have to pay a fee. The fee amounts vary. Depending on the cause of your driver’s license suspension, you will have to pay a fee in the amount of either $145, $175, or $220. If your driver’s license has been suspended twice before, you’ll also have to pay an additional $5 for reinstating your license.
Contact Shannon & Associates, P.C. for Help with Your Driver’s License Suspension
Our experienced and highly skilled Virginia license suspension attorneys have represented clients throughout Chesapeake, VA in fighting their traffic violations. We’ve also helped clients pursue having their driving privileges restored after having their driver’s licenses suspended or revoked.
If you’re seeking to have your driving privileges restored, call us today at (757) 228-5529 or contact us online to discuss how we can help you.