Columbia License Reinstatement Lawyer
Thousands of Columbia residents have their driving privileges suspended, revoked, or denied due to both minor and major traffic violations every year. These penalties can be a heavy burden to carry.
If you have had your license revoked for a period of five or ten years, a seasoned criminal attorney can help you petition the court to reinstate your driving privileges. Working with a Columbia license reinstatement lawyer could get your life back on track.
Common Reasons for License Suspension in Columbia
There are many factors that could cause a court to suspend or revoke someone’s driving privileges. Let’s take a look at some common reasons for license suspension:
- Point Accumulation. If you accumulate eight points in 18 months, your license will be suspended for 30 days if it is the first suspension, 60 days if it is the second, and 90 days if it is the third. If you accumulate 12 points in 12 months, 18 points in 24 months, or 24 points in 36 months, your driving privilege will be revoked for one year and you will have to retake the driver’s exam. These points are accumulated through traffic offenses such as speeding, not obeying traffic signs, or ignoring other traffic laws.
- Habitual Offenses. If a motorist is repeatedly caught committing the same offense, they could lose their driving privileges for a significant period of time.
- Inaccurate Driving Record. Having inaccurate information on your driving record could result in the suspension of your driving privileges. To avoid this, periodically check on your driving record to ensure it reflects accurate information.
- No Insurance. State law requires that all motorists be insured. Driving without insurance could result in the suspension of your driving privileges.
Contact a license reinstatement lawyer to find out what rights you retain and which options you can explore given your circumstances.
Penalties for DWIs and Other Serious Convictions
Any driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) arrests will result in the loss of privileges. Similarly, serious offenses such as evading law enforcement in a motor vehicle, hit and runs, and vehicular manslaughter will result in loss of driving privileges, too.
Motorists convicted of their first DWI offense are required by law to have their driver’s license revoked for 30 days, then suspended for an additional 60 days—that accumulates to 90 days without driving privileges. After being convicted of a second intoxicated driving offense, state law requires that the offender’s license be revoked for at least 1 year.
If the two convictions occurred within a 5-year period of time, you may receive a 5-year license denial. Additionally, three or more convictions may result in a 10-year denial. A local attorney could help understand how a DWI conviction could impact your license suspension.
How to Move Forward with Reinstatement
It is important to note that your driving privileges are not automatically reinstated after the suspension/revocation period is completed. It is up to the driver to file for reinstatement after becoming eligible. Here is what you need to do to find out if you are eligible for reinstatement:
Determine the Reason(s) Your License was Suspended or Revoked
This information can be found in the letter sent to you by the Missouri Driver License Bureau at the time your suspension or revocation under the section “Department Actions.” If you are unable to locate that letter, you can purchase a copy of your driver record at any license office in the area.
File the Necessary Forms
For each reason for suspension or revocation, you must complete the specific forms for reinstatement. Here is a complete list of violations and their subsequent forms and fines. Some of these forms, such as an SR-22, cost money to file.
From time to time, the Missouri Department of Revenue requires specific action in order for your license to be reinstated. Such action can include retaking the drivers’ test, enrolling in Substance Abuse Traffic Offenders Program (SATOP), or having an ignition interlock device (IID) installed.
Sometimes the specific action must be completed within a certain window of time. If you have missed this window of time to complete specific actions, contact a license reinstatement attorney to explore your options.
File the Petition for Reinstatement
Once you have filed the required forms and paid all fines, a lawyer can help you file a petition in the county you received the conviction that resulted in your suspension. This process is referred to as a “court-ordered license reinstatement.”
Complete the Criminal History Check
After you and your attorney have filed a petition in court, you will need to get a Criminal History Check. In order to complete this process, you will need a four-digit fingerprint registration number. After you have obtained your four-digit fingerprint registration number, you will be able to complete the Criminal History Check on the Missouri Automated Criminal History Site (MACHS).
As you can see, there are a lot of steps involved in the process. For this reason, having a skilled license reinstatement attorney on your side can be in your best interest.
Contact a Columbia License Reinstatement Attorney Today!
An experienced criminal attorney may help an individual navigate through and stay on top of complicated reinstatement procedures. You do not want to miss a deadline or skip over a detail that could jeopardize your future driving privileges. Contact a Columbia license reinstatement lawyer who could work to ensure you avoid these costly mistakes.