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Obtaining a Hardship Drivers License
In Tampa, after a DUI arrest the law enforcement officer will confiscate your actual drivers license and issue you a DUI traffic citation that is to be carried with you when driving in lieu of your physical drivers license and is valid for ten (10) days. As your Tampa DUI lawyer at Pallegar Law, P.A. we will fight to keep your drivers license and avoid any interruption in your driving privilege.
In the days following a DUI arrest, you have to preserve your right to drive in Tampa by taking several steps. You must apply for a hardship drivers license also known as a business purpose only drivers license or contest the license suspension by applying for a formal/informal review hearing within ten calendar days following the arrest. If you fail to take action within ten days your driving privileges will be suspended.
First DUI Arrest OffenderIf it is your first DUI arrest, and you want to keep your driving privileges without the risk of losing them you will need to go online and register for level one DUI counter attack school. The level one DUI school is a twelve hour course taught by a DUI instructor followed by a substance abuse evaluation and any recommended treatment. It is designed for first time DUI offenders and educates you on the affects and consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The registration fee for the school is $263.00. Contact a Tampa DUI lawyer today if you have any questions about these fees.
To register for level one DUI school click on the link below:
http://www.duicounterattack.org/duiservices/levelI.aspx
After you register, you will need to print out the email proof showing enrollment in the DUI school and set it aside. You do not need to complete the school to obtain your hardship license. All you have to do is take the proof of enrollment with you to the Bureau of Administrative Review office is sufficient.
If it is your first DUI arrest. after you have enrolled in the DUI counter attack school, you will need to complete a waiver of right to contest the administrative drivers license suspension. This is also known as waiving your right to the formal review hearing. The application is a one-page document and is provided by the Bureau of Administrative Review office.
The next step is to take your emailed proof of DUI school enrollment, your DUI traffic citation, and your waiver of formal review hearing form to your local Bureau of Administrative review office. We have copies in house and can provide them to you if necessary.
To find the Administrative Review office closest to you click on the following link:
https://www.flhsmv.gov/ddl/forms/hsmv78015-2.html
The Tampa Bureau of Administrative Review office is located at 2814 Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33610. Call them directly at (813) 276.5795. Business hours are 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday.
A short hearing will take place to determine your eligibility to obtain a hardship license. This hearing is relatively straightforward and lasts approximately one hour. Although labeled as a formal hearing, the procedures that take place are rather informal. After reviewing the evidence, if the hearing officer determines that you meet the qualifications you will avoid a temporary suspension of your driving privileges and you will be issued a restricted drivers license that maybe used to driver for business purposes only.
Click here to find out what sort of driving is permitted with a hardship license.
Contact a qualified DUI attorney in Tampa at Pallegar Law, P.A. to answer any questions you may have regarding your DUI and any drivers license suspension or revocation.
