Maryland Hardship License

Suppose you are convicted of a serious driving-related offense, such as DUI, reckless driving, or multiple violations in a short period. In that case, the court or DMV will likely suspend or revoke your license. However, depending on the state, you live in and the reason you lost your license, you may be able to drive with a "hardship license," "restricted license," or "limited driving privilege." In Maryland, if a person's license has been suspended, they may be eligible for a restricted license under certain conditions. A restricted license allows a person to drive for specific purposes. For example, they will be restricted to driving only to and from work or school and only during their employment.

Reasons For License Suspension

Maryland has many of the same suspension reasons as other states. A few exceptions include failing to pay a traffic ticket within 30 days or child support within 60 days. Other grounds for license suspension include:
  • Recorded eight or more points
  • Involved in a fatal accident
  • DUI with drugs or alcohol
  • Nonpayment of child support
  • Failure to pay for gasoline
  • Failure to appear in court
  • Failure to pay fines, violations, or traffic tickets
  • There is an outstanding arrest warrant.
  • Disabilities that prevent you from driving
  • Unsafe driving
  • Refusing to take an alcohol breath test
  • Infringing on a restric
  • ted driver's license
You must return your driver's license to the MVA by the deadline and complete your no-driving period. You may also be required to complete a defensive driving course. To avoid criminal charges, do not drive without a license during this time. You can, however, request a hearing to contest the license suspension. Fill out the hearing request section on your suspension notice to do so. Then, within 15 days of the notice's date, send the request along with the required fee. The Office of Administrative Hearings will provide you with information about your hearing.

Restricted And Hardship License

Some drivers may opt for a restricted driver's license instead of a suspended one following a drunk driving conviction. Drivers with a restricted license can drive with restrictions, whereas drivers with a suspended license cannot. A restricted license typically includes restrictions on where and when the driver can operate a vehicle and installing a car breathalyzer such as Intoxalock. Some states may restrict you to driving only a certain number of hours per week, driving in specific counties or municipalities, or driving to and from places such as work, school/college/university, church, substance abuse education counseling or courses, medical appointments, and places necessary for household maintenance (grocery store, gas station, pharmacy, laundromat, etc.). A restricted license holder cannot typically drive to social or recreational gatherings or operate a commercial vehicle. Each state has its process for issuing restricted licenses. Restricted licenses are typically granted case-by-case by a state administrative agency or a court and are not available in all states. If you violate your state's restricted license guidelines, you may face additional fines, loss of driving privileges, additional time with an IID requirement, and potential jail time. A hardship license is essentially the same as a restricted license because it is a limited driver's license granted case-by-case basis following an application for drivers with suspended or revoked licenses. The only distinction is the name.

Purpose Of The Maryland Hardship License

A hardship license allows people to keep their jobs while meeting other important obligations that require driving. So, to obtain a hardship license in the first place, motorists must frequently demonstrate to the court or DMV that they need to drive to:
  • Continue to work
  • Get yourself to school (or get kids to school)
  • Attend alcohol or drug rehabilitation
  • Seek emergency medical attention
  • Finish another important task
A hardship license does not restore all driving privileges; it usually has many restrictions on when and where the driver can drive. Some states even require drivers to take specific routes to and from permitted locations. Almost all hardship licenses also specify when the driver is permitted to drive. For example, a motorist with a hardship license may be restricted to driving only during daylight hours. A hardship license is useful for people who have had their license suspended because it allows them to keep their job and fulfill important obligations that require driving. You should consider getting one if you need to drive to work, to school, get your children to school, attend alcohol or drug treatment, attend doctor's appointments, or complete other important tasks. A hardship license does not restore all your driving privileges; it comes with strict conditions. In some cases, people will be restricted to taking specific routes to and from permitted locations. Hardship licenses also limit the number of hours a person can drive.

Hardship License Application

The requirements for obtaining a hardship license vary by state. Generally, a driver's eligibility for a hardship license is determined by the reason for the suspension, the motorist's driving record, and the license type held before the suspension. (Commercial drivers are typically ineligible for hardship licenses.) It is common for states to require DUI offenders to complete a "hard suspension" before applying for a hardship license. The individual is unable to drive at all during the hard suspension. The procedures for obtaining a restricted license differ from state to state. Most states require drivers to fill out an application at the DMV. The driver may also be required to attend a hearing at which a judge or DMV official decides whether the hardship license will be issued and what restrictions will be imposed. When a driver's license is suspended due to a DUI, the installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) may be required to obtain a hardship license.

Penalties For Violating The Hardship License Restrictions

If drivers fail to follow the restriction rules, their license will be suspended or revoked. The period of suspension or revocation is determined by whether the restriction is related to alcohol. Suppose the restricted license is the result of an alcohol-related incident. In that case, the Administrative Adjudication Division or the MVA will take immediate action to suspend or revoke the driver's license, sometimes before the driver pays the fine or appears in District Court. Suppose the restriction is not related to alcohol. In that case, the division takes action only after receiving notification from the District Court that either the fine was paid, thereby admitting guilt, or the judge found the person guilty. Drivers who violate the terms of their hardship license will typically have their hardship license revoked. In most states, there are no second chances, which means the driver cannot reapply for a hardship license after losing one.

Removing The Driving Restrictions

When the restricted driving period expires, or the driver believes they are eligible to have the restriction removed, they must contact the MVA division responsible for the restriction to have the restriction removed. Upon request, the individual should provide the MVA division with their full name, date of birth, current mailing address, and, if available, their driver's license number. When the appropriate materials are brought to the counter, the Administrative Adjudication Division or an MVA branch office will usually inform the individual of their decision if the Administrative Adjudication Division or an MVA branch office ordered the individual's Maryland license restriction. If the removal request was granted, the individual might apply for a corrected driver's license at any MVA branch office. A restriction code will no longer be displayed in the bottom right corner of a new license. The fee for removing the driving restriction is zero.