St. Tammany License Suspension Lawyer

St. Tammany License Suspension Attorney

One of the most frustrating elements of a DWI conviction can be losing your driver’s license. It’s reasonable to assume that you may be counting on your license for your job, for childcare, and many other vital elements of your daily life. Losing your driving privileges may be a hardship you weren’t expecting. It’s important that you do what you can to reinstate your license, including hiring a St. Tammany license suspension lawyer to oversee your situation.

The legal team at The DWI Defense Center LLC understands the inherent difficulties of a license suspension case involving DWI. Louisiana’s complex license suspension laws can be hard to navigate on your own, especially if you have not yet hired a St. Tammany license suspension attorney to help you figure out the right course of action. Without the right lawyer’s help, you may have no clue where to even start pursuing reinstatement. Our firm can support you.

The Driver’s License Reinstatement Process in Louisiana

If you are charged with a DWI in St. Tammany Parish, your case will most likely take place in the 22nd Judicial District Court if your case is a felony or the local city courts of Slidell, Mandeville, or Covington if your case is a misdemeanor.

Take preparations for your case seriously. In 2024, there were 1,647 impaired driving arrests in Louisiana. That same year, the state lost $485 million from DWI crashes. The court may be ready to impose maximum penalties on you.

The most important part of pursuing the reinstatement of your driver’s license is understanding every step of the process. You will not be able to pursue reinstatement if you don’t first endure the mandatory suspension period that comes with every DWI conviction in the state.

The amount of time you have to wait depends on many factors, including the severity of your offense or any prior convictions you may have. Here are the various steps in the reinstatement process:

• The first thing you need to do is request a hearing with the Louisiana Division of Administrative Law (DAL). You won’t have a lot of time to request this hearing, as the clock starts ticking the day of your arrest. From then, you only have 30 days to request the hearing. If you fail to make that request, you automatically waive your right to challenge the suspension at all, and it will be entirely upheld.
• Next, if your suspension is upheld, you need to wait out the entirety of your suspension as ordered by the court. During this suspension, you may be able to apply for a temporary hardship license that allows you to drive for essential purposes only, such as going to work or picking up your kids from school. You also need to complete any court-ordered penalties before moving forward with the reinstatement process.
• Depending on the details of your conviction, you may be ordered to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle for the foreseeable future. This device forces you to blow into it to prove your sobriety before starting your car. If it detects alcohol in your system, it won’t start. You also have to continue blowing into it to continuously prove your sobriety while driving.
• Next, you need to make sure you file an SR-22. This form is a Certificate of Financial Responsibility that shows you have the state’s minimum liability coverage required by law. This document is crucial to getting your license back. It won’t happen without it.
• Make sure you pay all outstanding fees associated with your account, including any administrative fees owed to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles. Finally, once you’ve paid those fees, contact the OMV to let them know you’ve completed every step. They then reinstate your driver’s license.

FAQs About License Suspension Law

How Much Is the Reinstatement Fee in Louisiana?

The reinstatement fee in Louisiana can vary from case to case and depends largely on the cause of your driver’s license suspension. It’s important to remember that a DWI is not the only reason someone can lose their license in Louisiana, including drivers in St. Tammany Parish. For a DWI, the reinstatement fee is $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second offense, and $300 for a third offense. For an underage driver, the fee is $60.

What Happens if You Drive Around Louisiana with a Suspended License?

Driving around Louisiana with a suspended driver’s license is a very serious offense that can lead to significant legal penalties. You could end up serving jail time, paying hefty fines, and losing your license for an additional year. Additionally, driving with a suspended license may not help your case for reinstatement when the time comes to apply. Paying a ticket for driving while suspended is considered an automatic guilty plea.

Who Do I Call to Get My License Reinstated in Louisiana?

To get your driver’s license reinstated in Louisiana, you need to contact the state’s Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) or visit one of its field offices to pay the reinstatement fees and clear any flags in your system. You may not know where to start when it comes to getting your license reinstated. Contacting a license suspension lawyer may be a smart move, if only to know where you stand and what to do first.

Why Do I Need a Suspended License Lawyer?

Many people need a suspended license lawyer, especially those charged with a DWI. Above all, you may want peace of mind that your case is being handled by someone who understands the process and can tell you what to expect. This whole process can be confusing and stressful. You may have multiple concerns that need to be addressed. We can provide you with reassurance.

Make Sure You Hire a License Suspension Lawyer

Hiring a skilled license suspension lawyer may be the most important decision you make for your case. Surround yourself with experienced individuals who understand the process better than you do. Situations like this are no different.

At The DWI Defense Center LLC, we have decades of experience helping clients through cases just like yours. Contact us to speak to someone who can provide help.