Am I Eligible for a Restricted License?

If your Maryland driver’s license is suspended after a DWI conviction, you may be eligible to obtain a restricted can be a substantial benefit to your life. This type of license allows you to continue managing your day-to-day responsibilities.

A restricted license allows you to drive to and from the following places:

  • Work
  • School
  • Authorized locations (e.g. childcare centers or religious establishments)

However, not all drivers who have been convicted of drunk driving are eligible for a restricted driver’s license. According to Maryland law, only those drivers who agree to submit to a chemical test and are found to have a BAC between .08 and .15 percent are eligible for a restricted license.

If you are in dire need to obtain a restricted license due to work or academic obligations, it is critical to get your employer or school to provide a letter on your behalf explain your need for the restricted license. In addition, enrollment documents for alcohol treatment centers, childcare programs, and other obligations can help in your attempt to receive a restricted license.

If you are not eligible for a restricted license because either your BAC was above the limit or you refused to take a chemical test, you may request to have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed in your vehicle, which can allow you to be issued a restricted license. An IID is a piece of equipment—similar to a breathalyzer—that requires the driver to breathe into a tube that performs a test to determine his or her BAC level. If the test results are below the programmed amount, the device will then allow the vehicle to start.

If you have been charged with a Maryland DWI, you may want to consider obtaining a restricted license or an ignition interlock as methods to maintain your driving privileges. For more information, request a free consultation with a Salisbury criminal defense attorney at William R. Hall, P.A. today.

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