Florida drivers who have had their license suspended may, in certain circumstances, apply for a restricted hardship license but the granting of a hardship license isn’t an automatic thing. A driver whose license has been suspended must meet certain eligibility requirements and apply to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) for a hearing to determine whether or not a hardship license will be granted. The hearing officer will listen to the driver's case and determine whether or not all the qualifications have been met and what type of restricted license, if any, to grant.

There are two types of restricted licenses:

1. For Business Purposes Only– This restricted license is granted for a person who shows the need to drive to and from work and to drive as a normal part of his or her job. This license also allows the driver to drive for medical, educational, and religious reasons.
2. For Work Purposes Only – This restricted license allows the driver to drive to and from work and as a normal part of his or her job only.

In order to apply for a restricted hardship license, the driver must contact the DHSMV Administrative Review Office in the county in which he or she lives to schedule an administrative review. It may help the review process to have letters or affidavits from prominent business leaders, law enforcement officers, or court officials to show that the individual can be trusted to drive a motor vehicle.

Prior to applying for a restricted hardship license, the applicant must show proof of enrollment in the appropriate driver education program:

• ADI - For a driver whose license was suspended administratively for points, child support, or due to a court order, the driver will have to either attend or show an enrollment form for the twelve-hour Advanced Driver Improvement (ADI) course. If the applicant has enrolled in, but not yet completed, an ADI course, the applicant will have 90 days to complete the course and provide a completion certificate or their restricted license will be canceled. This course is available on-line.
• DUI – If alcohol or substance abuse was a factor in the suspension, the applicant will have to show proof of completion or enrollment in an approved twenty four-hour DUI course. Failure to provide proof of completion in a subsequent treatment program will lead to cancellation of the restricted license until the course of treatment is successfully completed. The department may also require that the applicant install an alcohol interlock device on his or her car before granting a hardship license.

A driver whose license was revoked for five years or less must serve out a minimum one year period before applying for a restricted hardship license.

Restricted hardship licenses are prohibited for:

• Anyone who refuses to submit to a test for alcohol (Breathalyzer, field sobriety test) for a second time or anyone who has been convicted of a DUI two or more times.
• An individual who is disqualified from operating a commercial vehicle cannot get a hardship license to operate a commercial vehicle.

Labels: adi course, advanced driver improvement course, dui, restricted license

Getting a suspended license usually causes difficulty for people who need to get to and from work in their car. A way for suspended license holders to do so is to get a hardship license, which allows drivers to operate a vehicle while getting their license back. If you fall under any of these categories you may be required to complete a 12-hour Advanced Driver Improvement course:




Suspended License / Revoked License - If your Drivers License has been suspended for 12 points within 12 months you will need to enroll in this course before applying for a hardship license. The DMV will also be sending you a letter requiring you to complete a 12-Hour Advanced Driver Improvement course. This is the most common option.
Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO) - If your Drivers License has been suspended for 18 points within 18 months, you have received a letter from DMV requiring you to take a 12-Hour Advanced Driver Improvement course for HTO.
Court Ordered 12 Hour Traffic School - If your Driver’s License has been suspended and you appeared in Court and the Judge ordered you to take a 12-Hour Advanced Driver Improvement course.

A hardship license only applies for drivers who got a revoked license for points in Florida. There are 2 types of these restricted licenses:

• For Business Purposes Only - This restricted license is granted for a person who shows the need to drive to and from work and to drive as a normal part of his or her job.
• For Work Purposes Only - This restricted license allows the driver to drive to and from work and as a normal part of his or her job only.

Those who aren't qualified to get a hardship license are those who get a suspended license for being incapable of operating a motor vehicle safely, or those with a conviction for a DUI offense.

There are three steps to get apply for a hardship license in Florida:

1. Find an approved Florida 12 hour traffic school course, also called an advanced driver improvement course. Once a student signs up, they will receive a letter of enrollment. NOTE: You will have 90 days to complete the course and provide a completion certificate or your restricted license can be canceled.
2. Go to the Clerk of Court and get a "30 day search" for the Florida driving record. This takes just a few moments and the driver will then receive a letter about their driving record.
3. The driver must present the letter of enrollment from the 12 hour course, and the letter from the Clerk of Court to the DMV with a hearing officer. The driver will still be required to complete the 12 hour course first if they are branded as a "habitual offender." The hardship license will then be processed and mailed once the 12 hour course is completed.

Labels: 12 hour traffic school, adi course, advanced driver improvement course, court ordered traffic school, drivers license, hardship license, restricted license, suspended license