Indiana Hardship License : A relief?

There are any number of reasons your Indiana driver’s license can be suspended, from driving without insurance to an OWI conviction to failure to pay child support to accumulating a certain number of points on your driving record. Regardless of why your license was suspended, the end result for you is the same: you can no longer legally drive a vehicle in Indiana. If you get caught driving on a suspended license, you’ve just made a bad situation a whole lot worse. If you get in a serious accident while driving on a suspended license, you could be facing a long prison sentence.

Given life’s many obligations, your job not the least among them, getting your driving privileges back can be of the utmost importance. Fortunately, Indiana law allows some drivers to apply for and obtain a “hardship license” that will allow them to continue driving for specific purposes – primarily to get to and from work — under certain conditions.

Conditions under which an Indiana hardship license can be obtained :

• Driving without insurance. If you’re suspension is based on driving without insurance, you may be eligible for a hardship license only if you “inadvertently” drove without insurance, meaning that you had a good faith belief that you were actually insured, and you can show that the suspension causes an undue hardship on your family or dependents because it interferes with work.
• First OWI conviction. If you successfully complete a certified rehabilitation program and you can show that the suspension is causing undue hardship, you may be eligible.
• Possession of a controlled substance. You can petition the court for a hardship license to go to and from work after serving the first 30 days of the suspension.

You will not be eligible for a hardship license if your license is suspended for one of the following reasons:

• Physical, mental or emotional instability
• You are convicted of driving while suspended
• You were convicted of involuntary manslaughter or reckless homicide as
• a result of an automobile accident
• Your current suspension is for OWI and you have a previous OWI conviction

Reinstatement, whether through a hardship license or otherwise, usually involves filing petitions and related papers, a court appearance, and the payment of fines and fees. It is always a good idea to consult with an experienced Indiana traffic violation attorney to determine whether you are eligible for reinstatement and to assist you with getting your driving privileges back.

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