Suspended License Lawyer in Shreveport

For most people in Shreveport, having a driver’s license is crucial to being able to handle life’s necessities, such as getting to and from work, running errands, and visiting family and friends. However, as in all states, having a driver’s license in Louisiana is a privilege, not a right. There are several reasons why a driver’s license may be suspended, and there are subsequently some important actions that must be taken for it to be reinstated.

If your license has been suspended, a Shreveport suspended license lawyer can help you understand your legal options. They may also be able to provide services to help you get your license reinstated or obtain a hardship license so that you can continue working. 

The Reasons Your License Could Be Suspended in Shreveport

There are many reasons why someone’s driver’s license can be suspended in Shreveport. The type of actions that need to be taken to regain driving privileges depend on the circumstances of the case. Some reasons for license suspensions include:

• Getting too many traffic tickets in a short period: While Louisiana doesn’t use the same points system many other states employ to determine when a driver has received too many tickets to keep their license, they do have a method of tracking this information and a procedure for suspending licenses for this reason.
• Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol: If you are arrested for DWI, your license will not be automatically suspended. Instead, you have up to 30 days to request a hearing to fight the suspension of your driving privileges.
• Serious driving infractions: This may include failing to stop for a school bus with its stop-arm extended or causing an accident that results in injuries or death.
• Refusing to submit to a breathalyzer test: When an individual obtains their driver’s license, they are required to sign a statement consenting to comply with an officer’s request for a breathalyzer test on the suspicion of drunk driving. Failing to comply with this request results in a mandatory suspension.

While the procedures and requirements for having one’s license reinstated depend on the circumstances that caused it to be suspended in the first place, generally, a driver has the right to appeal the suspension within a few days of receiving a citation that results in license suspension. Additionally, they have the right to receive a reinstatement of their license after they’ve served their suspension period and have paid the reinstatement fee to the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles.

How an Shreveport Attorney Can Help After Your License Has Been Suspended

An experienced criminal defense attorney can help drivers avoid license suspensions in many cases by fighting the citations that could result in a suspension or by appealing the suspension. In most cases, when a driver gets a traffic ticket, they should not agree to pay the ticket before talking with a Shreveport suspended license lawyer, as payment constitutes a guilty plea. Instead, a lawyer can look for reasons for the case to be dismissed or help negotiate a plea deal in which the driver pleads guilty to a lesser charge and avoids certain consequences such as a license suspension.

After a suspension has occurred, a Shreveport suspended license attorney can appeal the suspension on behalf of the driver by demanding an administrative hearing within 30 days of the citation that resulted in the suspension. Appealing the suspension involves gathering evidence to prove that the license was suspended in error or that the driver did not commit the infraction that resulted in the license suspension.

How Else Can a Suspended License Lawyer Help?

An experienced Shreveport suspended license attorney can also help a driver with a suspended license by petitioning the district court. A hardship license is typically available 30 days after a suspension for a first offense and allows the driver to drive to “maintain the necessities of life” such as going to work, seeking medical care, or transporting children to school.

Additionally, when a driver has completed their suspension period, an attorney can help them to complete the reinstatement process. This process involves paying a fee and submitting other documentation to show compliance with the conditions of the reinstatement. For example, if a driver is seeking reinstatement of their license after a suspension for a DWI, they must show that they have served the mandatory suspension period, have completed the installation of an interlock device as ordered by the court, and have paid their fee.