DUI and Administrative License Suspension Appeals in Florida

By Jonathan Blecher on December 2, 2015

In the state of Florida, a DUI arrest will almost always result in a driver’s license suspension. Anyone who registers more than a .08 blood alcohol concentration (BAC) will have their license revoked for a period of at least six months, with the length of this suspension increasing if the driver refuses to submit to a chemical test. If you have been arrested for DUI, there are several things you can do to help alleviate the burden that a license suspension can impose.

Request a Formal Review Hearing

The yellow traffic ticket that officially charges a person with DUI serves as a temporary, 10 day driving permit starting at the date of a person’s arrest. A person can drive for only necessary purposes during this time, including to and from work, to the grocery store, and as a means of getting to medical appointments.

If you have been charged, it is important that you apply for a Formal Review Hearing with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) before this 10 day period expires. With the assistance of an experienced Miami DUI lawyer, this hearing will grant you the opportunity to appeal your license suspension. Simply requesting this hearing will grant you an extension to your temporary license for an additional 42 days.

If this hearing is not requested, the DHSMV will uphold its initial suspension. Depending on the length of your suspension and the circumstances of your arrest, you may be able to apply for a hardship license once a portion of the suspension has been served. To apply, you need to be able to prove enrollment in an alcohol treatment program. If you have multiple chemical test refusals, however, you will not be eligible for a hardship license under Florida law.

30+ Years of Miami DUI Defense Experience

If you are preparing to appeal your license suspension at a Formal Review Hearing, retaining the services of a hard-hitting Miami DUI lawyer is crucial to maximizing your chances of success. I, Attorney Jonathan Blecher, P.A., am fully prepared to fight your accusations head on and use my extensive knowledge to help you seek to have your suspension overturned. To get started towards an award-winning defense, call my office today at 305-321-3237.