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Family Emergency Gave Way to a Father Violating Terms of Probation/vop

Charge Dismissed!
The Charges A DUI conviction left a Sarasota resident with a suspended license and one-year probation. He was approved for a hardship license and made several attempts to obtain one, unfortunately, the DMV computers were shut down statewide. The following day the man had a family emergency and he made the choice to drive a short distance from his home. He was stopped by the police and cited for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked(DWLSR). As a result, he was charged with a Violation of Probation and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Hardship License There are two different types of hardship licenses. The first one will allow an individual to drive only for work-related purposes. The second type will allow the individual to drive to and from work, any business purpose for your job, and for educational or medical reasons. This would include going to the doctor’s office or family emergencies. There are many benefits to obtaining a hardship license. One will not need to rely on family members and friends for rides to work, the store, and other places they frequent. If you do not have family or friends that are willing to do this, you have to pay for a taxi or bus which can become expensive after time.   Another benefit of a hardship license is that it will make you a better driver. While this may sound crazy, the course needed for a hardship license will help one with this. They also have an online course for those individuals that like to work at their own pace.   The ADI course will need to be taken by any individual under these circumstances:
  • Has received 12 points in 12 months
  • Your driver’s license has been revoked or suspended non-DUI related charges
  • Your driver’s license has been revoked or suspended due to points that have accumulated
  • You have a court order to attend an ADI class
How to Obtain a Hardship License One will have to take certain steps in order to obtain a hardship license. These steps include:
  • Complete a course for the 12-hour ADI (Advanced Driver Improvement) course in Florida. You must receive a completion certificate.
  • Contact your county clerk and ask for a 30-day driving record copy.
  • Take your completion certificate and a copy of your driver’s record to the DHSMV. You will likely need to call ahead to make an appointment for this step.
  • After reviewing your certificate and record, the hearing officer will determine if you are eligible to receive a hardship license.
If you are eligible for a hardship license, you will need to retake your driver’s license exam and vision test.   RESULT: Two days after the DWLSR charge, our Client received a hardship license. Our Violation of Probation Defense Attorney obtained a letter from the DMV apologizing for the computer problems. Through intense negotiations with the State Attorney, the DWLSR charge was dismissed. We communicated extensively with our Client’s Probation Officer and successfully convinced the Court to withdraw the Violation of Probation Charge and warrant for arrest.
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