If you are convicted of a moving violation in North Carolina, your driver’s license can be suspended or revoked. License suspensions range from 30 days to a permanent suspension, depending upon the conviction. In certain cases, your vehicle may also be seized. Loss of driving privileges can be a challenge, especially if you do not have easy access to public transportation. How will you get to work? Take your kids to the doctor? Buy groceries? The courts or DMV hearing officer may also order you to pay for and attend a Driver Improvement Clinic before you can request your license be reinstated.
You can also have your license revoked for a medical condition (for example, if you have a seizure while driving). You will need to apply to have your license restored and may wish to have an attorney with you to work with your doctors to prove that your condition does not pose a danger.
The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles has a process in which you can appeal rulings of the DMV affecting your driving privileges, ask for reinstatement, and ask for additional considerations. A Hearing Officer is appointed by the DMV and you are allowed to appear and present evidence. These are difficult hearings and the right traffic attorney standing by your side can make your chances of a favorable decision more likely.
In the event you choose to appeal a ruling to Superior Court, your traffic attorney can take it to the next level. You only have 30 days to make this appeal, so there is no time to lose. Loss of driving privileges is a serious thing and impacts your daily life. Knowing how to leverage the rules in your favor must be done by an experienced traffic lawyer. Brinkley Walser Stoner routinely handles DMV hearings for its clients. Contact us today to see how we can help.