If a New Jersey criminal court finds you guilty of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol, it may no longer trust you to get behind the wheel and navigate the roads safely. So, it may order a temporary suspension on your driver’s license. Obviously, you may heavily rely on the fact that you can drive yourself to and fro. So once this freedom is stripped from you, your daily routine and quality of life may take a drastic turn. This is to say you may be counting the days until this suspension is finally lifted. Well, follow along to find out how long your driver’s license may be suspended after a DUI charge and how a proficient Morristown DUI defense lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC can help you get it reinstated as soon as possible.
How long will my driver’s license be suspended after a DUI charge?
Essentially, the duration your New Jersey driver’s license will be suspended depends on whether this is your first or subsequent offense, among other aggravating circumstances. More specific examples read as follows:
- If you are charged with a first-offense DUI: your license may be suspended until you install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle.
- If you are charged with a first-offense DUI with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) level over 0.15 percent: your license may be suspended for six months.
- If you are charged with a second-offense DUI: your license may be suspended for anywhere between one to two years.
- If you are charged with a third-offense or subsequent DUI: your license may be suspended for anywhere between eight to 10 years.
How can I get my driver’s license reinstated after a DUI charge?
You must understand that your driver’s license suspension period expiring does not necessarily mean that you will automatically regain your driving privileges. Rather, you are expected to formally reinstate your license with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC). This may entail submitting filing the appropriate paperwork, supplementing it with certain documents, and proving that you are up-to-date on all your fee payments with the NJMVC.
In addition to going through this application process with the NJMVC, you may be expected to install an IID in your vehicle. Then, you may have to keep this IID in your vehicle for three months if you were charged with a first-offense DUI; two to four years for a second-offense DUI; and also two to four years for a third-offense DUI.
There is far more to explain on this topic than this blog cannot even begin to cover. So for more information, please get in touch with a talented Morristown criminal defense lawyer at Graves Andrews, LLC. We look forward to collaborating with you.
