We all know that getting a driver’s license after having a DWI related offense in your records isn’t very easy. After the first DWI related offense, getting your driver’s license back becomes a bit of a hassle. The authorities, especially in Louisiana will have little or no trust in you to handle a vehicle on the road and you will be faced with the challenge of having your credibility as a driver questioned due to your previous acts. It may come to the point where you will have to prove yourself to the authority issuing the driver’s license. However, in a place like Louisiana, since a lot of people often find it very difficult to obtain their driver’s license, most people go for what is commonly referred to as a hardship license. In this article, we will be taking a close and deep look at what a hardship license is and how to get it as a DWI or DUI case offender.

What is a Hardship License?

A Hardship License is a license that you can get after your main license has been suspended or revoked in order to continue regular activities. This is for those whose driving privileges have been cut short due to one or two acts of reckless behavior amongst individuals. These reckless behaviors include driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of alcohol. Most people solely depend on their cars to aid their movement around their environment and also as a means of livelihood and having a suspended license may not seem very convenient for them.

If you are suspended in court due to DUI or DWI related cases and your license is seized, you can petition the court through the help of a great lawyer to grant you the ability to get a hardship license to aid your everyday driving and movement. It is very important to note that this hardship license does not grant you total access to all the privileges of a licensed driver. This is because there are several restrictions placed on the hardship license and these restrictions are to be taken into serious consideration.

In a place like Louisiana, hardship license holders may be able to drive to and from specific places like school, work, and various appointments. However, you are only allowed to drive during a specific time duration and to specific destinations set by the court for you.

Obtaining a hardship license

Obtaining a hardship license, especially in Louisiana is not very difficult, and it’s not very easy either. Application for the hardship license is done through the Department of Motor Vehicles. During the application process, you will have to state with full proof how not having a drivers’ license would lead to severe hardship for you and your family and why the public transportation option isn’t a very good option for you.  It is very important to know that you need to go with a proper DWI Lawyer Baton Rouge that will be very capable of defending you during the whole process. One of the requirements to obtain the hardship license, especially after the first DWI relate case is to install an ignition interlocking device in your vehicle. This device is described as a breathalyzer specifically program for the driver to blow air into the mouthpiece. Once the device detects one level of alcohol, the engine will not start. This is to prevent drunk driving on the streets of Louisiana. 

Eligibility Criteria

The criteria for the eligibility of a hardship license solely depends on the kind of offense you committed that led to the suspension of your license and your driving history. If you have a history of reckless driving or serious cases like hit-and-run, then your application for a hardship license may be declined. In most cases, especially in Louisiana, you can obtain get a hardship license after completing a hardship period of 30-days fully. This hardship period is usually given to individuals that got their licenses revoked due to DWI and DUI related cases.

It is also very important to note that at any point in time, your hardship license could be confiscated if you again, violate other road and driving rules or you are caught in the process of committed those DWI related offenses again. So, if you want to maintain the hardship license and work your way up to getting your real driver’s license released, it is very important that you must be careful.

There are certain cases where you may not get a second chance if you are caught violating the terms of the hardship. That’s why, whatever you try your possible best not to get involved in another DWI or DUI related offense.

Whenever you are confused, and you need help on how to go about your application and the various steps involved. You can always seek the services of a lawyer. A good lawyer will help you to properly figure out what you should do at a particular period of time and how you can go about it. They will aid you while you are trying to convince the court on why the use of your car is of absolute importance. There are severe lawyers that have helped a lot of people, especially people based in Louisiana and one of them is Carl Barkemeyer. This is a renowned lawyer that can help you go through the process of obtaining your hardship license after getting a DWI in Louisiana.

DWI Lawyer in Baton Rouge

Getting a hardship license after having your license seized doesn’t have to be a very difficult process. From the application process to the process of checking the driver’s track record, a good lawyer can help you go through these with ease. A hardship License is one of the only ways in which you can get back on the road again after getting a DWI. That’s why once you get hold of it, always try your very best to be at your best behavior both physically and on the road because confiscation of this hardship license again, would be a disaster.