Let Our Rapid City DUI Lawyer Help You Get Your Driver’s License Back In Your Hands
Last updated on April 18, 2025
For more than 25 years, attorney Matt Skinner has provided aggressive DUI defense for the people of Rapid City and the surrounding communities. If you live in the Black Hills region and need to get your driver’s license back, contact Matt Skinner to put a skilled driver’s license defense lawyer on your side as soon as possible.
Losing your driver’s license after a charge of driving under the influence (DUI) can be a great burden on your life. License suspension makes everything in life more difficult, including basic things like getting to your job and taking care of your family. In some situations, you can get your driver’s license reinstated — but you will need help from an experienced license reinstatement attorney.
For a free consultation, call Skinner Law Office at 605-519-5600 or complete our contact form. We represent clients throughout the Black Hills region.
How Do I Get My License Reinstated?
In South Dakota, you have up to 10 days from the date of your DUI arrest to contest the suspension of your license. This is an outline of the process for getting your license reinstated:
- Submit an administrative hearing request with the Department of Transportation
- Receive a date for your court hearing within 30 days of submitting your request
- Attend the administrative hearing with your defense lawyer
- Receive a decision from the judge
Generally, judges will only reinstate a license if you can demonstrate that there was a violation of your civil rights, an error in protocol during your arrest or that losing your license would cause undue hardship for you. If the judge agrees to reinstate your license, you must pay a reinstatement fee of $100. If you miss the 10-day deadline, you forfeit the right to contest your license suspension.
IMPORTANT: Contact Skinner Law Office as soon as possible after a DUI arrest. We can handle the driver’s license side of your case, as well as the DUI charge.
Can Your License Be Suspended Without You Knowing?
In some situations, your South Dakota driver’s license can be suspended without your direct knowledge. The Department of Public Safety may suspend your license for various reasons, including unpaid traffic tickets, failure to appear in court, accumulation of too many points on your driving record, or non-payment of child support.
While the department typically sends notification letters to your address on file, if you’ve moved without updating your address with the DMV, you might not receive this crucial information. Additionally, administrative errors can sometimes result in notifications being sent to incorrect addresses.
What Happens If You Drive With A Suspended License In South Dakota?
Driving with a suspended license in South Dakota carries serious consequences. A first offense is classified as a Class 2 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. Subsequent offenses carry even harsher penalties. Beyond the criminal penalties, driving on a suspended license can lead to:
- Extension of your original suspension period
- Vehicle impoundment
- Increased insurance rates when you do get your license back
- Installation of an ignition interlock device as a condition of reinstatement
- Ineligibility for restricted driving privileges
Insurance companies regularly check driving records when issuing or renewing policies, and a suspended license typically triggers higher premiums or even policy cancellation.
How Can Police Tell If Your License Is Suspended?
Law enforcement has multiple ways to detect suspended licenses, even during routine traffic stops. When an officer runs your license plate through their mobile data terminal, the system immediately flags if the registered owner has a suspended license.
During a traffic stop, when you provide your license, officers can quickly verify its status through their in-car computers connected to the state’s Department of Public Safety database. Even if you don’t have your physical license, providing your name and date of birth allows officers to check your driving status.
Modern police vehicles are increasingly equipped with automated license plate readers that scan plates of nearby vehicles and instantly alert officers to suspended licenses, outstanding warrants or other issues.
Get A Free Consultation With A South Dakota DUI Defense Attorney
Learn more about your options for getting your driver’s license back. For a free consultation, please call 605-519-5600 or contact us by email. Our DUI defense lawyer represents clients in Rapid City and throughout the Black Hills region.
