You may have heard that your license is "automatically" suspended after a driving while intoxicated arrest or a charge of being a habitual traffic offender. This is not quite true. If your license is taken away, you have the right to challenge it before the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. If it has already been suspended and you'd like to reinstate it or petition for a hardship license, you have the right to petition the Department. And when you do, you have the right to representation from an experienced Fort Lauderdale DMV hearing lawyer.

If your license is confiscated after an arrest, Florida law gives you just 10 days to request a hearing. That's a very tight deadline, especially if you had to spend some time dealing with the fallout from an arrest. However, if you miss this deadline, you will lose the chance to fight your license suspension and you will spend at least 30 days without your license, which is why it's crucial to contact a Miami-Dade license suspension attorney as soon as you can. Even though this DMV hearing is an administrative matter completely separate from any underlying criminal charge, you can and should be represented by a lawyer.

If your license was taken away by law enforcement, don't wait to call Balliro Seltzer. After requesting your hearing and preserving your right to challenge your license suspension, we can get you a temporary, restricted driver's license right away that lets you drive to work, school, religious services and the supermarket. At the hearing, the DMV must prove that you were lawfully arrested, that the officer had probable cause and that you knew of the consequences of refusing a blood-alcohol test, if applicable. Our West Palm Beach DMV hearing attorneys will mount a strong defense of your driving privilege, in tandem with any underlying DUI charge or traffic infractions. We can also help after the fact with efforts to reinstate your license or get a temporary hardship license.

Balliro Seltzer handled tens of thousands of Florida criminal cases, including DMV license suspensions with and without a charge of driving under the influence. We understand how deeply a criminal charge or a driver's license suspension can affect your life, which is why we promise aggressive and thorough defense from all the criminal and civil consequences of your charges. We also understand that legal emergencies happen at all times, not just during business hours, which is why we're available at all times -- 24 hours a day and seven days a week. You can reach our Fort Lauderdale administrative license suspension lawyers anytime for a free face-to-face consultation on the charges facing you or your loved one.

To meet with an experienced Balliro Seltzer criminal defense attorney in South Florida about your case and your rights, contact us online today or call us toll-free at 1-866-ARRESTED.