DC DMV Hearings Lawyer
When you face DUI, DWI, or OWI charges in Washington, DC, appearing in court is just one step in the process. The DC Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will hold an administrative hearing to determine if your driver’s license will be revoked. It is important to have an experienced DC DUI DMV lawyer in your corner when it comes to this process to help you navigate the DMV’s complicated administrative process. You have a very short time to appear before the DMV after you’re charged; usually, it is only a matter of weeks. Having a lawyer represent you gives you the best chance of maintaining your driving privileges. The DMV hearing is also an opportunity for your DC DMV lawyer to examine a portion of the prosecution’s case against you before you appear in criminal court. DMV representation may give your attorney the opportunity to lay the groundwork for potential criminal defenses by questioning the arresting officer prior to your criminal trial.
How the DMV Hearing Process Works
After you are arrested on suspicion of DUI, DWI, or OWI, you will receive a notice of proposed suspension from the arresting officer when you are released from custody. You will then have 10 days to request a DMV hearing if you are a DC resident and 15 if you reside out-of-state. Your driving privileges will be automatically revoked or suspended if you fail to schedule a hearing. Additionally, if you refuse to take a breath test or provide a blood sample for alcohol and drug testing, you will violate the DC implied consent law, which entitles the DMV to increase the length of your license revocation or suspension.
DC DMV Penalties for Out-of-State Drivers
Out-of-state drivers have 15 days to request their DMV hearing. If they fail to schedule a hearing, the DC DMV has out-of-state Driver’s License Compact agreements with many U.S. states. It forwards the news that the out-of-town driver no longer has driving privileges in the District of Columbia, along with a “request of license revocation” to the state in which the DUI offender is licensed to drive. Whether these out-of-towners lose their drivers’ licenses is up to the state in which their license was issued, but this information may also be shared with the driver’s insurance company, which can cause their insurance rates to rise. Drivers are also at risk for further criminal charges if they continue to drive when their license is suspended.
An Experienced DMV Attorney Can Help
DUI laws and procedures are consistently modified to streamline the conviction process and make punishments more severe. The DMV’s administrative process can also be complicated and difficult to navigate without the help of an experienced DUI defense attorney. Skilled DUI DMV lawyer can represent you at your DMV hearing, effectively argue your case at trial, or successfully negotiate a favorable plea agreement. He can also help you challenge the results of a DMV hearing and assist you as you work to get your license reinstated.