Driver License Renewal or Reinstatement After DUI Arrest in Atlanta

The Atlanta DUI defense attorneys at Yeargan & Kert, LLC fully understand how frustrating a driver’s license suspension can be. As such, we are committed to helping our clients have their licenses reinstated as quickly as possible. If you’ve lost your license after a DUI arrest, don’t hesitate to call our law firm for help. We offer a free consultation, so contact us to schedule yours now.

How the Yeargan & Kert, LLC Legal Team Can Help You Get Your Driver’s License Back

For most Georgians, having a driver’s license is a necessity. It allows them to do essential things like get to work, drop their kids off at school, and visit elderly family members.

If you have had your license taken away because you were arrested for DUI (driving under the influence), you may be feeling lost. And you are almost certainly wondering how you can get it back.

Fortunately, help is at hand. The experienced DUI lawyers at Yeargan & Kert, LLC in Atlanta are ready, willing, and able to assist you in your fight to get back on the road.

When you hire us to help you get your license back, we will:

Provide You with Experienced Legal Guidance

When you first lose your driver’s license after a DUI in Georgia, it can be difficult to know what to do next. Unless you have been through the process before, you almost certainly do not know what steps you need to take to get your license back. Fortunately, the experienced lawyers at Yeargan & Kert, LLC in Atlanta can point you in the right direction.

Having worked on countless DUI cases over the years, our attorneys are intimately familiar with the processes that must be followed to reinstate or renew a suspended or revoked license. When you work with us, we will analyze your case and let you know which reinstatement path you should follow.

Complete and File the Necessary Paperwork on Your Behalf

Getting a suspended or revoked driver’s license back after a DUI arrest almost always involves quite a lot of paperwork. Should that paperwork be filled out incorrectly or sent to the wrong address, the reinstatement of the license can be delayed by weeks or even months.

When you hire a Yeargan & Kert, LLC lawyer, we will complete this paperwork on your behalf. Our knowledgeable team has been helping clients get back on the road for years. With us on your side, you can be confident that your license reinstatement will not be delayed by administrative errors.

To learn more about how a Yeargan & Kert, LLC DUI attorney can help you restore your driving privilege, please do not hesitate to give our Atlanta law office a call. We would be happy to set up a free consultation to discuss your situation in greater detail.

License Suspensions and Revocations in the State of Georgia

The state of Georgia can suspend or revoke an individual’s driver’s license for a wide variety of different reasons, such as:

Elevated Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

In the state of Georgia, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of more than 0.08. For individuals who are driving large trucks, buses, or commercial vehicles, the limit is 0.04. Meanwhile, drivers who are younger than 21 years of age must maintain a BAC of less than 0.02.

Anyone who is found to be above the legal limit for their driving category will be arrested and charged with a DUI. During the arrest, the state will take away their permanent driver’s license. In most cases, they will also provide the driver with a temporary license that is valid for 45 days.

Temporary or restricted licenses are not available to drivers who are under the age of 21.

DUI Less Safe

Failed blood tests or breathalyzer tests are not necessary to arrest a driver for DUI in the state of Georgia. Section 40-6-391(a)(1) of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated states that motorists may not “drive or be in actual physical control of any moving vehicle while under the influence of alcohol to the extent that it is less safe for the person to drive.”

This law means that if a law enforcement officer catches a person driving in an unsafe manner, and subsequently finds that they have a blood-alcohol level that is greater than 0.00 but lower than the legal limit, they can charge that individual with DUI Less Safe.

Individuals who are arrested for DUI Less Safe will have their permanent driver’s licenses taken away. In most cases, they will then be handed a temporary license and will be categorized as a restricted driver for 45 days.

Refusing to Submit to a Blood or Breath Test

Georgia law states that anyone who operates a vehicle on a public road must submit to a chemical test for alcohol or drugs when requested by a police officer. This rule is outlined in section 40-5-67.1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. It is referred to as “implied consent.”

An individual who refuses to take a chemical test can have their Georgia driver’s license administratively suspended for up to 12 months. The state can then obtain a warrant for the driver’s blood and subject them to further criminal punishment if they are above the legal limit.

If you have had your driver’s license suspended for any of the reasons listed above, please reach out to the Yeargan & Kert, LLC legal team as soon as possible. We may be able to help you with your DUI case and get your license reinstated.

How to Reinstate or Renew Your Suspended or Revoked Georgia Driver’s License

Once the state of Georgia revokes or suspends a driver’s license, the path to get it reinstated will depend on a broad range of factors, such as:

A non-exhaustive list of some of the most common ways to get back on the road after a DUI-related license suspension or revocation would include:

Requesting a Special Administrative Hearing

Individuals who have recently had their license taken away can have their attorney request a special administrative hearing to get it reinstated. They must request a hearing within 30 days of the individual’s arrest.

At the hearing, the offender’s legal team can negotiate with the prosecution to downgrade the charge from a DUI to something less serious. If the lawyer can successfully reduce the charge, the offender will no longer be subject to an automatic suspension. As a result, they will most likely get their license back in fairly short order.

If the attorney is unable to convince the prosecutor to reduce the offender’s charge at the hearing, hope is not lost. The lawyer can still argue the offender’s case to the presiding judge in an effort to have it dismissed. If they are successful, the offender will have their license reinstated.

Installing an Ignition Interlock Device

Drivers who have recently lost their licenses may also be able to get back on the road by installing an ignition interlock device in their car. Such a device must be fitted within 30 days of the original DUI arrest.

Individuals who choose to install an ignition interlock device must pay for it out of their own pocket. Costs include:

Once the device has been fitted, drivers can, with the help of their attorney, apply to the Georgia Department of Driver Services for an ignition interlock permit. This permit allows them to regain their driving privileges immediately. However, if they commit any traffic offenses while driving on such a limited driving permit, they will almost certainly have the license suspended once more.

Waiting Out the Suspension Period

For drivers who missed out on the 30-day window to request a hearing or install an ignition interlock device, the best way to get back on the road is to simply wait out their suspension period. In most cases, the license suspension or revocation periods for Georgia DUI convictions are as follows:

While waiting for their suspension to be over, offenders can take a re-education course. These courses generally take 20 hours and must be completed before the state of Georgia will reinstate a DUI-suspended license.

Once the suspension period has concluded, the driver can submit their proof of course completion and the required reinstatement fee to the Georgia Department of Driver Services. If approved, they will be back on the road again in fairly short order.

For more information about the best path to license reinstatement in your case, please reach out to Yeargan & Kert, LLC. We will be more than happy to provide you with the information and assistance you need.

Call Our Atlanta Driver License Reinstatement Attorneys Today

The knowledgeable attorneys here at Yeargan & Kert, LLC have been helping the people of Atlanta fight back against their DUI charges and license suspensions for years. If you would like us to help you get back on the road after your DUI arrest, please do not hesitate to give us a call or contact us online. We are always ready to assist.