What Happens to Your Driver’s License After a DUI Arrest?
One of the most worrisome parts of a DUI arrest is what will happen to your driver’s license after a DUI arrest. This page is intended to provide you with the information that you need to understand what the impact on your driver’s license will might be, how to minimize those penalties, and what is required to obtain the re-issuance of your driver’s license if it is suspended.
When you are arrested for DUI in Georgia, your driver’s license can be suspended prior to the conclusion of your criminal case. It is critical that you retain a qualified DUI lawyer to protect your license after a DUI arrest. If the officer requested that you submit to a blood or breath test and the results were higher than the legal limit, your driver’s license may be suspended before the DUI criminal case is actually concluded. If the officer requested that you submit to a blood, breath, or urine test and you refused to submit to testing, your driver’s license may be suspended before the DUI criminal case is actually concluded. If the officer requested that you submit to multiple different types of tests (for example, blood and urine), be aware that refusal of either may result in an administrative suspension for refusing state-administered testing.
THE 10-DAY LETTER (ALS APPEAL) IS NECESSARY IN ORDER TO KEEP YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE VALID UNTIL A HEARING UPON THE ADMINISTRATIVE (PRE-TRIAL) SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE
The 10-day letter keeps your driver’s valid until you are given a hearing on the suspension. Contrary to what many people think (some lawyers included), the 10-day letter does not guarantee that your driver’s license will remain valid until the criminal case is concluded. Generally speaking, the administrative license suspension case is concluded prior to the criminal case, so the license suspension could take place prior to the criminal case.
In other posts, we’ll discuss what actually occurs at administrative license suspension hearings, different issues that arise during hearings, and how you can avoid an administrative license suspension after you have been arrested for DUI.
