ANNE ARUNDEL, CALVERT, CHARLES, ST. MARY’S & PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES.
License Suspension & the MVA | Haskell & Dyer
The MVA Can Take Your License Even If You Win in Court.
In Maryland, the Motor Vehicle Administration runs its own case against your license, on its own clock, separate from the criminal court. Miss the deadline and you can lose your license by default. We fight the MVA side too.
The Clock Is Running
You have a short window to request your MVA hearing.
After certain charges, especially a DUI, you generally have only a matter of days to request a hearing before the MVA suspends your license automatically. This deadline is separate from your court date, and the MVA does not wait for the criminal case to finish. Call us right away so we can request the hearing in time.
Two Separate Cases
Court and the MVA Are Not the Same Fight
This is the part that catches people off guard. One incident creates two cases, and you can win one and lose the other.
The Criminal Case
Your Day in Court
This is the charge a judge hears, with penalties like fines, probation, or jail. It runs through the District or Circuit Court on the court's schedule.
The Administrative Case
Your License at the MVA
This is a separate hearing run by the MVA that decides what happens to your license. It has its own deadline, its own rules, and can suspend you no matter what the court does.
Why a License Gets Suspended
What Triggers an MVA Suspension
The MVA can act on your license for a range of reasons, some of which have nothing to do with a criminal charge.
A DUI or DWI arrest
Refusing a chemical test
Accumulating too many points
Failing or refusing a breath test
Certain serious traffic convictions
Unpaid tickets or fines
A missed court appearance
Medical or fraud-related actions
How a Hearing Works
What to Expect at an MVA Hearing
An MVA hearing is your chance to keep driving. Here is how the process generally moves.
You request the hearing in time
The single most important step. The request has to be made inside the short window, or the suspension can take effect automatically.
We build your case
We review the stop, the notice you were given, the testing, and the paperwork for the weak points that protect your license.
We argue before the administrative judge
The hearing is in front of an administrative law judge, not the criminal court. We make the case for keeping you on the road.
We pursue a way to keep you driving
Where the law allows, we push for a restricted or hardship license or an ignition interlock option so you can still get to work and family.
How We Protect Your License at the MVA
The criminal case and the license case both matter, and we handle both so one does not sink the other.
We Move Inside the Deadline
We request your hearing right away so the MVA cannot suspend you by default before you are ever heard.
We Know the Process
MVA hearings run on their own rules and standards. We know how they work and what the administrative judge needs to see.
We Fight to Keep You Driving
From full dismissal to a restricted or interlock license, we aim for the outcome that keeps your life moving.
We Handle Both Cases Together
We coordinate the court case and the MVA case so the strategy on one strengthens the other.
Common Questions
License Suspension & the MVA, Answered
If I beat the charge in court, is my license safe?
Not necessarily. The MVA case is separate from the criminal case and runs on its own standard. You can be cleared in court and still face a license suspension at the MVA, which is exactly why both cases need to be handled.
How long do I have to request an MVA hearing?
The window is short, often just a matter of days after the triggering event, especially with a DUI. Because the exact deadline depends on your situation, the safest move is to call right away so we can request the hearing before it closes.
Can I still drive while my case is pending?
Often yes, if you request the hearing in time. That can let you keep driving while the matter is decided, sometimes with a restricted license or an ignition interlock option. Missing the deadline is what usually takes that chance away.
What is a restricted or hardship license?
It is a limited license that can let you drive for essentials like work, school, or medical needs even while a broader suspension is in place. Whether you qualify depends on the facts, and we will tell you honestly if it is within reach.
How do points lead to a suspension?
The MVA tracks points from traffic convictions, and once your total reaches certain levels it can call you in and suspend your license on its own. Keeping points down, and fighting the charges that add them, is how you protect your license over time.
Facing an MVA Suspension? The Deadline Won't Wait.
The MVA case moves on its own clock, and missing the window can cost you your license before anything else happens. Tell us what you're facing and we'll act fast. The first conversation is free.
Need us after hours? Call our 24/7 line: 240-687-0179
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC Practicing Law in Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Prince George’s Counties.
The Law Offices of Haskell & Dyer, LLC
Fax: 301-627-5848
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