Administrative Suspension
561-616-8700If you have been arrested for D.U.I. in Palm Beach County (all of Florida) and you refused to give a sample of breath or you gave a sample and the sample was in excess of .08 then your license has been administratively suspended!
The D.U.I. citation is your driving permit for 10 days and 10 days only! During that 10 day period you may go to the Bureau of Administrative Review, located at 1299 West Lantana Road, Lantana, Fl. 33462, to apply for a hearing (either formal or informal) to contest the license suspension. One of the benefits of contesting the administration suspension is that you will receive (shortly) in mail a temporary driving permit for business only. This will allow you to remian on the road for another 30 days or so. Please be advised that the B.A.R. has procedures (such as the subpoena for the officer) and if you decide not to hire a lawyer it maybe to your detriment! Be advised that there are times when you should not subpoena the arresting officer!
If you "win" the administrative hearing then you can obtain a duplicate driver's license, pending the outcome of the criminal case. If you "lose" the administrative hearing then you face either a 30 day or 90 day period of hard suspension. After the period of hard suspension you may apply for a hardship license. If you have a prior D.U.I., where you had a hardship license, you will not be eligible to obtain a hardship license.
The B.A.R.'s telephone number is 561-540-1191 and the fax number is 561-540-1198. If you have been arrested in a county other than Palm Beach County then be advised that this is not the administrative office you need!