Will Your Driver's License Be Revoked for DWI?

Losing the right to drive can have a major impact on your job and your life. If you're convicted of drunk driving, your license can be temporarily or permanently revoked, so if you've been charged with DWI, it is important to contact a New York suspended license lawyer right away.

At Anelli Xavier, PC, we help clients throughout New York preserve their driving privileges by fighting DWI charges and pursuing conditional licenses. No matter where you are charged in New York State, we are confident our firm will give you the best possible outcome due to our extensive training and sole focus on DWI Defense. Contact us today to talk to an experienced DWI lawyer.

What Happens After a DWI Charge or Conviction?

If you have been arrested for charged with DWI, your driver's license will be taken at your arraignment (if not earlier) and sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) while your case is pending.

If you are eventually convicted of DWI, your license will be suspended or revoked for at least six months. In some cases, license revocation can be permanent.

How long you will lose your license will depend on whether this is your first, second, or third or subsequent offense; your blood alcohol content ( BAC); and possibly other factors.

Are You Eligible for a Hardship License?

While your case is pending, it may be possible to obtain a hardship license — also known as a conditional license — so you can get to work, take your kids to school and drive for certain other reasons. You have a right to a hardship hearing within three days of your arraignment.

If you are convicted of DWI, you will need to obtain a new hardship license. Both pre- and post-conviction hardship license hearings take place in criminal court. The attorneys at our firm are familiar with the standards judges use when deciding whether to grant hardship licenses.

What if You Refused the Breath Test?

Your driver's license can also be revoked for a year or longer if the DMV determines that you refused a breath test in violation of New York's implied consent law. This can happen even if you are never charged with or convicted of the criminal offense of DWI.

If you are accused of breath test refusal, you have the right to a DMV hearing. This hearing will be separate from any proceedings on your DWI charges. To discuss what the lawyers at our firm can do to help you avoid a suspended license in New York, contact us today.