HOW DO I GET A

JACKSONVILLE WORK

LICENSE AFTER A DWI?

“Being charged with DWI in North Carolina results in an automatic revocation of your driver’s license regardless of

whether you are convicted of DWI. This creates a very frustrating situation because you are unable to drive to work, take your

children to school or perform other necessary tasks.”

Welch and Harris, LLP

How Do I Get a Jacksonville Work License After a DWI? www.welchharris.com 2

Being charged with DWI in North Carolina results in an automatic revocation of

your driver’s license regardless of whether you are convicted of DWI. This

creates a very frustrating situation because you are unable to drive to work, take

your children to school or perform other necessary tasks. This situation

becomes worse if you are convicted of driving while impaired because you can

lose your driving privileges for a longer period. However, North Carolina DWI

laws allow some drivers to obtain limited driving privileges or a work license even

though they are charged with DWI.

The attorneys of Welch and Harris, LLP have extensive experience defending

North Carolina DWI cases. In addition to presenting a strong defense on your

How Do I Get a Jacksonville Work License After a DWI? www.welchharris.com 3

behalf, we can also help you apply for a work license. Contact our office at

(910) 347-0161to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.

WHAT IS A WORK LICENSE?

Limited driving privilege (LDP), also known as a work license, is a special type of

driver’s license that allows the person to drive for limited purposes such as work

and school. A work license only allows you to drive for the purposes of traveling

to and from work. While

you will be unable to drive

for other purposes, it does

allow you to get to work so

that you can keep your job

while you are fighting the

DWI charge.

The normal hours for a

work license are Monday

through Friday from 6 a.m.

until 8 p.m. Because not everyone fits into these time frames, you can submit a

statement from your employer stating your work hours if you need a work

license that permits you to drive during other hours. Being self-employed can

complicate matters; however, a letter written on the company’s letterhead will

often meet the requirements for obtaining a work license covering other time

frames.

How Do I Get a Jacksonville Work License After a DWI? www.welchharris.com 4

ARE ALL WORK LICENSES THE SAME?

Work licenses or limited driving privileges are separated into categories

depending on under what circumstances you are applying for a work license.

You can apply for a work license for driving privileges in refusal cases, pre-trial

license revocations and post-trial convictions.

Work Licenses in Refusal Cases

If you refuse to submit to a chemical analysis such as a breath test after you are

arrested for DWI, the DMV will revoke your license for one year. You do have a

very short period of time

to appeal this decision;

however, if you fail to

appeal or you are

unsuccessful on your

appeal, you will lose your

driving privileges for one

year.

If you lose your driving

privileges for refusal to take a breath test, you are not eligible to receive a work

license until after the first six months of the revocation. After six months, you

can apply for a work license through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

How Do I Get a Jacksonville Work License After a DWI? www.welchharris.com 5

Pre-trial Work Licenses

After being arrested for DWI, your license is automatically revoked for 30 days if

your breath test revealed a

BAC of 0.08 or above (0.01

or above if you are under the

age of 21). If you were

driving a commercial vehicle,

results of 0.04 or above

trigger the automatic 30-day

license revocation. After 10

days, you may be eligible for

a work license if you meet the following requirements:

You must have had a valid driver’s license at the time of your DWI arrest

or a driver’s license that has not been expired for more than a year;

No DWI convictions within the past seven years;

No additional DWI charges since the revocation of your driving privileges;

Proof of automobile insurance;

Proof of completing a substance abuse assessment and participation in any

recommended treatment plan; and,

Pay a $100 fee.

If you are granted a work license, your limited driving privileges will expire at the

end of the 30-day revocation. At the end of the 30-day period, you can pay a

$50 fee to have your regular driver’s license restored. Your driveling privileges

How Do I Get a Jacksonville Work License After a DWI? www.welchharris.com 6

will remain in effect until and unless your driving privileges are revoked for the

DWI conviction.

Post-trial Work Licenses

Even if you are convicted of driving while impaired, you may still be eligible to

receive a work license for limited driving privileges. You must meet all of the

same requirements as

you did for the pre-trial

work license with three

additional requirements if

your BAC was 0.15 or

above.

First, you are not eligible

for a work license for the

first 45 days for the

license revocation period

if you below a 0.15 or above on the breath test. Second, you will not be eligible

for a work license for a full year if you were convicted of a DWI Level I or II.

Third, you must have an interlock device installed in your vehicle before you can

be eligible for a work license.

How Do I Get a Jacksonville Work License After a DWI? www.welchharris.com 7

DWI CONVICTIONS AND LICENSE REVOCATION

If you are arrested for DWI, convicted of DWI or refuse a chemical test, you will

lose your license but for how long will depend on the circumstances under which

you lose your driving privileges. There is hope. A work license or a LDP (limited

driving privileges) license can give you the ability to drive for the purpose of

going to work, school, obtaining medical care or taking care of basic necessities

(i.e. going to the grocery store, paying bills, etc.). However, you must first

petition for a limited driving privileges and meet all of the requirements for a

work license.

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It is in your best interest to consult with our experienced DWI lawyers as soon as

possible to protect your rights. We have the experience, knowledge and

resources to help you fight a DWI charge so that you can get on with your life

without the frustration and consequences of a DWI conviction.

CONTACT AN EXPERIENCED JACKSONVILLE DWI ATTORNEY

“ATTORNEYS WHO AGGRESSIVELY PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS”

Welch and Harris, LLP is a full service Jacksonville Criminal and Civil law firm that

is committed to providing results-driven legal representation to businesses and

individuals seeking an alternative to large-firm representation. We focus on

getting you the results you want while offering you a cost-effective solution to

your legal needs. We understand that we work for our clients; therefore; our

attorneys communicate regularly with each client to ensure that the client knows

what is going with the case.

When you have legal problems, you need an experienced legal professional in

your corner. No matter the case, you should have an attorney working for you

who knows the law and who has the experience to get results. We represent

clients throughout Duplin County, Onslow County and the surrounding

communities. Call our office at (910) 347-0161or contact us online today for a

free case evaluation.

How Do I Get a Jacksonville Work License After a DWI? www.welchharris.com 9

About Welch and Harris, LLP

Jacksonville, North Carolina Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation, Family Law and Admiralty

At Welch and Harris, LLP, our team is committed to help you with your legal needs. This means that we thoroughly investigate your case and zealously represent your interests. We are goal-oriented and will focus on getting you the results you want, while at the same time offering a cost-effective and efficient solution to your legal needs. We also understand that an attorney works for their client, so we strive to ensure that our clients are in touch with their attorney and always know what is going on with their case. With Welch and Harris, LLP, you can count on personal attention from our legal team.

We know that there is never a convenient time to have to deal with a court case or other legal problem. Because of this, we will make every effort to minimize the impact your case will have on your daily life. We offer flexible payment options for both legal fees and court expenses, and because it can also cost you time and money to take off from work or school to attend court, we will do everything we can to meet with you at your convenience and help you avoid setting foot in a courtroom.

Every case is different, and every case is important. If you or somebody you care about has a legal problem, call us today and find out the difference that strong, knowledgeable, and personal legal representation can make! Our office is strategically located across the street from the courthouse in Jacksonville on the coast between the ports of Wilmington and Morehead City and within easy reach of the various commercial and recreational fishing communities and beaches of eastern North Carolina. We are also located proximate to Camp Lejeune, Camp Johnson, and the New River Air Station, and as a “military friendly” business, we are proud to be able to serve the particular needs of the armed forces community.

636 Court Street Jacksonville, 28540

Phone: 910.347.0161 Website: www.welchharris.com