If you have committed a DUI, your license may be suspended or revoked. Without a license, you will be unable to drive anywhere, including to work or school. In some circumstances, you can apply for a restricted license or a limited driving permit, so that you can continue your daily life and support yourself.
Whether you are eligible for a limited permit depends entirely on your specific offense, the details surrounding your case, as well as the details of your probation. In addition, offenders under the age of 21 are not eligible for limited permits whatsoever. At Thomas and Willis we can help you determine if you qualify for a limited permit, and we can guide you along the process to applying for one.
The easiest way to get your driving privileges back is to go to the Department of Driver Services and show them an Affidavit of First Conviction. An Affidavit of First Conviction is issued by a judge, and it can only be issued to someone who just had their first conviction ever or their first conviction in the last five years.
It is completely up to the judge if he will issue this affidavit. If you had other convictions that occurred over five years ago, he may decide not to give you the affidavit. In addition, if the judge decides to make the suspension of your driver’s license a condition in your probation, you will not be able to receive a restricted license or permit until your probation ends.
You can also receive a limited permit by going to the Department of Driver Services and showing them a certified copy of your traffic citations and the sentencing sheet.
Remember, you are never allowed to drive if you don’t have a license or if your license has been suspended. This includes the day you go to court for trial. Even if you did not expect to lose your driving privileges and drove yourself to the court house, you are not legally allowed to drive yourself home. You must make arrangements to have someone else drive you.
This also applies to when you go to the Department of Driver Services to apply for your limited permit. The people at the DDS office will ask you how you got there. If you tell them that you drove yourself, not only will you not receive your permit, but you could also be arrested for driving on a suspended license. You will then be found in violation of parole and could be sent back to jail or charged a significant fine.
A limited permit will allow you to drive to the places that are most essential to your daily life, but you are not allowed to drive anywhere you want to go. With the permit, you can legally drive to work, school, probation meetings, community service, and the doctor. You can also use the permit to drive to counseling sessions for drug and alcohol abuse.
Many people are surprised by the many places where they are not allowed to drive, such as to a grocery store or to a church. It’s very important that you clearly understand what is and isn’t allowed with your permit, so that you don’t get arrested for driving under a suspended license.
Would you like to know more? Then check out our The Ultimate Georgia DUI Law Fact Sheet. Or you can contact a DUI attorney today. Our associates at Thomas and Willis can help you build a legal defense and fight your DUI charges. Call 404-250-1113 today to schedule a free consultation.
Many people arrested for DUI feel as though they have already been pronounced guilty of a crime. If you have been charged with DUI, you should speak with expert DUI attorney Thomas J. Thomas.
750 Hammond Dr. Building 10 Suite 200
Atlanta, GA 30328
