For many people, preserving the privilege to drive is the most critical component of their DWI charges. If you have been charged with DWI in Washington, D.C., Maryland, or Virginia, you must act quickly to schedule a DMV hearing to protect your driver’s license from automatic suspension. You have only fifteen calendar days to schedule a DMV hearing, or your license will be automatically suspended for ninety days or more.
When you accepted your driver’s license, you also gave the state implied consent to revoke your driving privileges based on suspicion of drunk driving. The DMV hearing is not a criminal proceeding, and you have few constitutional rights. Aggressively fighting to save your driver’s license at the DMV hearing is much like defending yourself in your DWI criminal court case, although you have no protections against self-incrimination. You don’t need an attorney to represent you, but hiring an experienced DWI attorney will often make a positive difference in the outcome. Many people often do themselves more harm by answering questions that lead the hearing officer to increase the suspension time. We help prevent saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
Getting the right DMV hearing officer is very important. We use our experience to ask the right questions to determine what officers will be most responsive to our defense strategies. In some cases, we are able to represent you in your absence, so you can concentrate on your job. In cases where you are required to attend, we handle everything to help you get through the process quickly and with a minimum of interference in your life.
It’s never too late to start fighting against a suspended driver’s license.
Even if you have let things go until the last minute, there may still be time to file an appropriate motion to delay the proceeding. If your license is already under suspension, we can also help you obtain an occupational driver’s license for work and specific family needs.