Harford County MVA Attorney
An arrest in Harford County Maryland for DUI (driving under the influence) initiates both a criminal charge and an administrative license suspension. Just as you have the ability to develop a defense to combat your drunk driving charges, it is possible to provide evidence to avoid a suspension of your driver’s license. A Harford County MVA hearing lawyer can help protect your driving privileges. The evidence you provide will be in front of an administrative law judge at your Harford County MVA (Motor Vehicle Administration) hearing. However, it is essential that you take the proper action before your protected rights expire beginning with contacting a Harford County DUI lawyer.
If at the time of your arrest your BAC (blood alcohol concentration) level registered between 0.08% and 0.149%, you risk a 45-day suspension of your driver’s license if this is your first DUI offense. However, if your BAC levels indicated 0.15% or higher, you are subject to a suspension of your driver’s license for 90 days, in your first DUI offense. Any subsequent DUI offense increases the period of your suspended license.
If you have a experienced Harford County MVA hearing attorney working on your side, you may be able to have the suspension modified if you are found guilty of the charges. The MVA administrative law judge might be willing to modify the suspension by allowing restrictive driving to and from work/school or to receive medical treatments.
If you refused to take the breath or blood tests at the time of your arrest, you are subject to a suspension of your driver’s license for 270 days if this is your first refusal. Any subsequent refusal will suspend your license automatically for one year.
Scheduling a Hearing
At the time of your arrest, the law enforcement officer probably took your standard driver’s license and replaced it with a temporary one. This temporary driver’s license automatically expires after 45 days of your arrest. In the meantime, you can drive with your temporary license until you have had your scheduled hearing in front of the administrative law judge at the MVA Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).
The closest OAH branch office to Harford County is located in the Administrative Law Building at 11101 Gilroy Rd. in Hunt Valley, Maryland. However, there may be a different address located in your Notice of Hearing. Quite often, hearings are held at alternate temporary locations throughout the state of Maryland. This is different from the Harford County courthouses that hear DUI cases.
It is imperative to schedule a meeting within the 10-day time as allotted by law. If you choose not to take any action to schedule a hearing in front of the administrative law judge at your Harford County MVA hearing, your license will be automatically suspended on the 46th day after your arrest for a DUI. Because of that, it is imperative to ensure that you fill out the proper form and mail in the $150 to cover the cost of the hearing by the allotted time.
The Importance of a Harford MVA Lawyer
The Harford County MVA hearing is a step that decides whether you will keep or lose your Maryland driving privileges. However, you will only receive a hearing if you make the formal request within the specified time limit. It is important to understand that not all suspensions are handled equally. Based on the skills of an experienced attorney, you may be able to avoid a suspension, or receive modifications to allow you to drive to work and other essential functions, enabling you to maintain the current quality of life for you and your family.
A skilled Harford County MVA hearing lawyer understands the complexities of a Harford County MVA hearing involving DUI charges. The experienced attorney will consider all available defenses in their effort to protect you and your driving privileges. Contact us today for a free case analysis.