Because driving our own vehicle as a means of transportation has become so commonplace, many people are under the impression that driving is a right. But the law has a tendency to dictate otherwise. Driving is a privilege, that can be revoked in the event certain crimes are committed. One of the most common crimes that lead to the loss of driving privileges is a DUI.
When a person who has become accustomed to using their car frequently endures a license suspension as a result of a DUI, it becomes a massive inconvenience. For people who use their car to get to their place of employment, attend school, pick up their kids, or engage in other activities, completely complying with this suspension can be incredibly hard, if not impossible.
If you are in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, driving while your license is suspended due to a DUI has serious consequences. Fortunately, the county has options to make this suspension less of an inconvenience. However, you won't have access to these opportunities without the aid of a skilled criminal defense attorney.
DUI-Related License Suspension in Delaware County
Following a DUI conviction in Delaware County, the majority of motorists 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 a person has or the quantity of drugs in their system, and their eligibility for state and county programs that can make a suspension more tolerable.
Occupational Licenses
Drivers facing a mandatory license suspension have the option of petitioning the court for an occupational license. A restrictive occupational license allows motorists to drive their own vehicles solely to and from work during a license suspension. If the request is granted, this license will only be granted 60 days after the initial suspension. Motorists who choose an alternative choice, 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 solely offered to first-time, non-violent criminal offenders. This program gives individuals the opportunity to reduce or completely evade the stiff penalties associated with a DUI, like jail time, the loss of driving privileges, and the creation of a criminal record. ARD is completed when members of this program successfully fulfill the terms they're assigned. All terms are individually tailored to the charges acquired. For example, a person charged with a DUI may be required to attend an alcohol or drug treatment program, and highway safety school for an allotted time to complete ARD.
The benefits of completing this program are great. If requirements are fulfilled, a mandatory license suspension penalty may be reduced to a 30- or 60-day suspension, and the initial charges will be dismissed.
Delaware County Criminal Defense Attorney
If you have been arrested and charged with a DUI in Delaware County, and you are facing a mandatory license suspension, you should immediately contact an experienced criminal defense attorney. Attorney Joseph D Lento has extensive experience helping people in this debacle gain access to county and state programs, and to obtain an occupational license.
If you are caught driving with a DUI suspended license, attorney Joseph D. Lento can also help you reduce these charges to forgo the mandatory jail requirement and more. Contact him today for help.
