Even after a person has been convicted of driving while intoxicated in Mississippi, there are still considerations that benefit from the assistance of a DWI Attorney in Hattiesburg MS. One of those is the possibility of obtaining a hardship driver’s license, also known as an occupational license, which allows the individual to receive a reduced time for license suspension.
Some states do not issue any hardship licenses. Many states do provide hardship licenses but restrict the person to driving during limited times on certain days of the week. In those cases, granting the license is primarily intended to allow the person to get to work and back, to go to school or to receive necessary medical care. Mississippi, in contrast, does not limit the driver’s time on the road. If a hardship petition is approved, the license is completely reinstated.
Petitioning the court for this license can be done after the driver’s license has been suspended for at least 30 days. In this state, a driver’s license is suspended indefinitely after a DWI conviction until the individual completes the Mississippi Alcohol Safety Education Program. The program requires attending one weekly meeting for four weeks in a row. After completion, the suspension is reduced to 90 days.
Once the initial 30 days are up, a DWI Attorney in Hattiesburg MS can fill out the necessary paperwork to apply for the hardship license. The client must supply verification as to why this license is essential. That involves providing documentation proving he or she is employed, attending school or receiving medical treatment. The court understands that many people are at risk of losing a job or having to drop out of school if they cannot drive themselves to the location. Public transportation is not always available and not everyone has a friend or relative to chauffeur them around as needed. The same is true for someone who has regularly scheduled appointments for medical therapy.
A DWI Attorney in Hattiesburg MS must inform clients that hardship licenses are only issued to people with one such offense. Repeat offenders are not eligible. A Criminal Defense Attorney at T. Michael Reed can provide further information on eligibility and other concerns.
