A driver’s license is necessary for many people. You need it to commute to work, drop kids off at school, etc. However, there are many reasons your license may be revoked. If this happens to you, it’s important to understand how you can get it back so that you can quickly return to life as normal. Whether you’ve recently lost your license, or simply want to be prepared, here’s how to get your license restored after it’s been revoked.
Why Your Driver’s License May Get Revoked
There are many reasons why your driver’s license may get revoked. Depending on the reason, you’re strategy to restore your license may differ. Understanding what you can do to have your license taken away can help you avoid costly mistakes. Here are some common ways to lose your driver’s license.
No Proof of Car Insurance
Since it is illegal to drive without insurance, it’s imperative that you always carry around proof of insurance when you drive. Even if you are insured, you must be able to prove it. You can lose your driver’s license simply for not being able to provide proof of insurance during a routine traffic stop.
Alcohol or Drugs
Your license may be revoked for committing a drug or alcohol offense while operating a motor vehicle. Common offenses include:
- Driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 or higher
- Driving a commercial vehicle with a BAC of 0.04 or higher
- For drivers under the age of 21, driving with a BAC of 0.02 or higher
Not Appearing In Court For a Previous Traffic Violation
It is possible to have your license revoked for failing to appear in court for a traffic-related misdemeanor. Failing to appear generally results in a “FAC Suspension.” If you have a FAC suspension on your driving record, then it is probable that there is also a warrant out for your arrest.
Not Complying With A Citation
Smaller traffic offenses can quickly escalate if you don’t do your due diligence to take care of them on time. If you choose not to pay a ticket or infraction within the allotted time period, then a judge may order a failure to comply, which is coupled with a suspension on your license. Known as an FCJ suspension, these penalties will add additional fees and costs to your previous infraction, as well as the cost of getting your license restored.
How To Get Your License Restored After It’s Revoked
Regardless of how you got your driver’s license revoked, it’s important to understand how you can get it back. There are several steps in the process. However, here is a general guide to help you navigate the license restoration process.
Obtain Your Driving Record
To get your license restored, you must fully understand what infractions you are facing. To do this, request and obtain your certified complete driving record. You can get this information from your local SOS office. Simply request a complete record, pay the $12 fee, and confirm it’s the official record by the number “42” in the top left corner.
Analyze your driving record to identify any outstanding balances or fees you may have left unpaid. Everything under “End of driving record” still needs to be addressed. Depending on the cause of your suspension, there will be two categories listed on the record.
Definite Suspension
Definite suspensions are simpler to handle than indefinite suspensions. This type of suspension lists a period of time, and once that time is up, simply pay the $125 reinstatement fee at your local SOS to have your license restored.
Indefinite Suspension
Indefinite suspensions have no thru-date, and so you must take action to get your license back. Depending on the severity of your infraction, this may not be possible.
Go To Your Hearing
After your license has been revoked, a hearing may be scheduled where an SOS lawyer will decide whether or not to restore your license. The hearing will likely take palace in an SOS office. Typically, these hearings happen in a small office marked “hearings.” Most hearings take place via a TV or monitor, and the hearing officer may not be there in person.
Arrive for your hearing early, and expect it to last around an hour. Be prepared ahead of time to explain your case and present any documents or information related to your case. After hearing your case, the hearing officer will determine whether or not to restore your license.
This may be one of the most important parts of getting your license restored after it’s revoked, so make sure you are well-prepared. One of the best ways to be prepared is to consider hiring a traffic lawyer to help guide you through the process.
Get A Lawyer
One of the best ways to get your license restored after it’s revoked is to hire a traffic lawyer. Attorneys who specialize in traffic court can help walk you through the process of restoring your license by explaining infractions, fees, and the path to restoring your license.
Although rare, it is possible that you will be given an infraction or have your license suspended unjustly. If this is the case, a traffic court attorney will help ensure that all the facts are brought to the attention of a judge. This way, you only incur the minimum penalties for any supposed infraction.
Traffic court can be complicated to navigate. It’s always better not to try and do it alone. Hiring a traffic lawyer will help ease the process and get you on the right track to getting your license restored.
We Can Help!
At Traffic Buddy, we believe that every individual should have access to legal representation for any traffic-related charges. From tickets to forfeiture of vehicles, we make it our mission to help provide all the facts to help ensure you receive the minimum possible penalties for any alleged infraction. If you need traffic court representation, reach out today!