Wait 6 Months
The first step in any journey back to your driving life is the six months it will take for your probation to expire. During this time, you’re going to need alternate forms of transportation and to rely on friends and family to help with specific errands.
Depending on where you live, you may want to get very familiar with the bus system, subways, trolleys, and local trains in order to get where you need to go. You are likely to grow more accustomed to walking and to asking for convenient ‘on the way’ rides with friends and loved ones willing to help.
Learn to Bicycle and Avoid CUIS
Bicycling may become your best friend, as they can get you from place to place quickly without public transport or racking up favors. You don’t need a special license for driving a bicycle like you do a motorcycle or speedy motorized scooter. Some states, like California, have CUI (cycling under the influence) laws but Minnesota is not one of them. While you should be careful, cycling while intoxicated won’t put your license at further risk.
Probation
Every DUI comes with probation. The intent is simply to keep track of you and have an open ‘warning’ record open on risky behavior, not to catch you for probation violations. Rather, having active probation simply means that there is a warning record open on your choices and any future trouble with the law will be worse because it occurred while you are on probation. During this time, you shouldn’t do any non-prescription drugs or commit any petty crimes, but you are allowed to drink as long as it doesn’t cause problems.
You may or may not also be required to partake in recovery or DUI programs by court order and submit proof that they have been taken. Remember, probation does not end when you get your license back, but your days of bicycling could be if you play your cards right.
What It Will Take to Drive Again
If you are like most people wrapping up their first DUI license suspension, no doubt you are counting down the days until you can have your license back but it won’t reappear magically in your hands. When a license has been suspended, it must then be re-issued to the holder after the suspension is complete but only if certain qualifications are met.
DL Reissuance Steps
- Complete Suspension
- Pay all Fines
- Pay the Reissuance Fee
- Provide Proof of SR-22 Insurance
- Proof of Completion for Any Required Classes or Programs
What this means is that before you get back behind the wheel, even if you have done all your time and classes, you will need to get insurance first and a driver’s license second. The insurance may also be required to be SR-22, a minimal but complete policy for high-risk drivers that some insurance providers offer and some do not.
With all your fines paid up and classes completed, you are not ready to finally rejoin the ranks of thousands of adults making the morning commute every day. Only this time, you will likely be far more appreciative of your opportunity to take long luxurious night drives and frivolous jaunts to the store without getting someone else to do the driving.
A DUI doesn’t have to be the end of your functional working life. If you have recently been arrested for a DUI in St Paul, Minnesota, our team of experienced legal professionals can help you make it through. Hopefully, this article has given you perspective on how to recover if you are convicted of a DUI.
Contact us today for more personalized advice on your unique situation. Let us help you with your DUI concerns.