PROCESS TO GET YOUR LICENSE BACK AFTER A DUI
A person convicted of a DUI which ended with a license revocation has the ability to request a restricted license. In order to do this one must apply to the trial judge or a judge of any court in the person’s county of residence having jurisdiction to try charges for driving under the influence for a restricted driver license. If the judge approves the restricted license application, the judge may also order the person to install and keep an ignition interlock device as a condition of probation depending on the individual factors of the particular case such as: blood alcohol concentration at time of arrest, presence of minors during time of arrest, if there was a traffic accident caused by the accused, violation of the implied consent law, etc.
One is not eligible for a restricted license if he or she has a prior conviction for the offense of vehicular assault, aggravated vehicular assault, vehicular homicide, aggravated vehicular homicide; or seriously injured or killed another person in the course of the conduct that resulted in the driver’s conviction for driving under the influence or a similar offense in another state.
However, if you are not able to receive a restricted license, or if you are approaching the end of your license revocation period, the next step would be restoring your license. First, there are a few fees you must pay in order to restore your license. You must then apply for a new Tennessee driver license, and again, pay the fees that come with that application process. All of your court fees and fines must be paid, and all of the restoration fees must be paid before the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security will approve of your license reinstatement.
License restoration is the final key to putting a DUI conviction behind you. This can be a confusing process, therefore, it is important to consult an attorney to help you navigate not only the effects of a DUI before conviction, but how to return your life to normal after conviction.
You may also want to take at the article titled “Does a DUI count as a criminal conviction?” for more information on this topic.