Columbia, MD MVA Hearing
Have you been pulled over for drinking and driving? Chances are that following your arrest, you will face license suspension from the MVA. Having your license suspended is a more than inconvenient; it can pose a serious threat to your livelihood. The Maryland MVA Hearing is one of the first parts of your DUI case as a whole, so call on a trusted Maryland DUI lawyer to help get you through it.
When Should You Call a Lawyer for Your DUI Case?
The sooner you get a lawyer on your side, the higher chances of your success in regards to keeping your license and minimizing the damage that DUI charges can do. Following your arrest, you will have 10 days to schedule a hearing with the MVA to address the suspension of your license. So, when should you hire a lawyer to handle your DUI? We advise doing it within those 10 days so that you can go into your hearing with a strong defense right off the bat. For first-time offenders, the administrative hearing and associated penalties can be the most difficult part of the process.
In the event that your case goes to trial and is more serious, having a lawyer on your team as soon as possible is going to be essential. Not only that, but unlike a formal court of law, you will not be appointed a lawyer during the MVA hearing. If you want legal assistance, it’s up to you to secure it for the hearing portion of the process.
What Are Your Options When Facing License Suspension?
When you attend the hearing to address your license’s suspension, there are a few possible outcomes. Your license could be suspended, you could receive a restricted license, and/or you could be required to use an ignition interlock device. To obtain a restricted license, you may need a letter from your employer or school that requests the MVA to give you access to a restricted license. Regardless of your circumstances, your plans, and your case, call on the expertise of a lawyer to help you through what can often prove to be a difficult process.
What Can You Expect at Your MVA Hearing?
Once you’re able to secure a time for the hearing, you’ll be able to sit down with an administrative judge and your lawyer to discuss whether or not your license will be suspended. Based on the evidence presented by the arresting officer’s police report, your testimony, and the argument of your lawyer, your license’s fate will be decided. Both you and the MVA can call upon witnesses to provide additional testimony and, in some cases, the arresting officer may also be summoned. For the most part, these hearings tend to take less than an hour, though witnesses and summoning officers will certainly lengthen the proceeding.
Don’t Take on the MVA Alone!
If you’re scheduled to participate in an MVA hearing, you don’t have to go it alone. Call on the expertise of Albers & Associates to learn more about how we can help you and to set up a free consultation. We’re ready to serve you.