All of us have places we need to get back and forth from, and for most of us, this requires driving. Whether it be taking the kids to school, going to our jobs, appointments, or church, we are, in truth, a very mobile society. However, one thing I have learned from working in this field is that it is very easy to lose your driving privileges.

One of the most common ways to lose your driver’s license is to be arrested for driving under the influence. While you will have to go through the court process for a DUI, if the tests have determined there is reason to believe that you were driving under the influence, your license can be suspended before the case has concluded.

The State of Indiana understands that, although there are allegations that you may have committed a crime, the ability to commute is a necessity. It is for this reason that the State of Indiana created specialized driving privileges. Specialized driving privileges allow for an individual to drive, even during an ongoing case. They are called specialized because the court will set certain parameters around when and where you are permitted to drive. The court might say that you can drive back and forth to work, to go to and from medical appointments, or only if it is related to your child’s education. Some judges can be very specific, right down to the number of times you can drive in a day.

The bottom line is that specialized driving privileges allow you to handle the important matters of your life, despite any pending charges or convictions. These privileges are granted by the court, and are valid for a limited period, up to two years. There are of course requirements for specialized driving privileges, such as certain crimes that you cannot have any past convictions for, et cetera. If you have any questions about this, please give me a call or send me an email. If you have any questions regarding DUI-related charges I am always more than happy to talk with you. Until next time, remember, if you have to be guilty of anything, be guilty of greatness. Take great care.