Special driving privileges allow suspended Indiana drivers to legally travel to work, drive to the doctor, and other locations approved by a court.

If you qualify for special driving privileges, a lawyer can file a petition for you in the appropriate court. A judge will review your driving history and current circumstances to decide to whether to award you special driving privileges.

The following individuals are ineligible for a specialized driving permit:

1. A person who has never had a valid Indiana driver's license.
2. A person who holds a commercial driver's license.
3. A person who has refused to submit to a certified chemical test offered for an operating while intoxicated arrest.
4. A person convicted of an offense that includes the element of causing the death of another person and the offense involved the operation of a motor vehicle

Otherwise, you may qualify for specialized driving privileges allowing you to travel to work or any other purpose a court determines appropriate for you such as parenting time, medical appointments, the grocery store, and other necessities of life. This is true even if you have a lifetime suspension.

Restrictions on specialized driving privileges may include, but are not limited to:

1. requiring the use of ignition interlock devices; and
2. restricting a person to being allowed to operate a motor vehicle:
   1. during certain hours of the day; or
   2. between specific locations and the person's residence.

A person who has been granted specialized driving privileges shall:

1. maintain proof of future financial responsibility insurance during the period of specialized driving privileges;
2. carry a copy of the order granting specialized driving privileges or have the order in the vehicle being operated by the person; and
3. produce the copy of the order granting specialized driving privileges upon the request of a police officer.

Trial court judges do not have to grant requests for specialized driving privileges, but may if the judge believes the driving privileges are appropriate. Therefore, you should hire experienced traffic and criminal defense lawyers such as Vonderheide & Knecht to help you. Contact us today to discuss your options under the special driving privileges law.