Practice Areas / Administrative Law

Kermit L. Dunahoo, the Administrative Law caseload supervisor, is a former assistant professor of administrative law and legislation at the College of William & Mary Law School in Williamsburg, Virginia.  The Dunahoo Law Firm handles all types of DOT/driver's license matters, including telephonic revocation or suspension hearings and work permit applications.

 

Traffic Violations Suspension Hearings

Upon receipt of a DOT notice of a pending hearing to revoke or suspend your drivers license, you should immediately forward it to the Dunahoo Law Firm for review, for purposes of requesting a DOT hearing to contest the pending suspension. After determining the status and necessary steps to handle your case we will contact you regarding the projected cost, plus send you a detailed questionnaire for use in the hearing. These hearings always are by telephone, both for your attorney and you (if you choose to participate). An attorney can be worthwhile even if your license gets revoked or suspended, in order to seek a work permit.

[See DLF Website Forms Nos. 4-8]

 

No-insurance Suspensions

The driver's licenses of both the driver and the registered owner of an uninsured vehicle causing personal injury or property damage to another person in an accident generally are subject to indefinite suspension until the matter is settled.

The Dunahoo Law Firm is experienced in seeking three alternative resolutions, all of which prevent or end driver's license suspension(s). First the liability question of whether the accident was your fault can/should be contested in a DOT hearing. Notice of a pending suspension, with opportunity for a telephone hearing with DOT, should be transmitted to the Dunahoo Law Firm upon receipt from the DOT, in order for a hearing to be requested within the time deadline noted on the DOT notice.

If a suspension is already in effect, a payment plan could be pursued with the victim(s) or bankruptcy can be filed (depending upon your total debts and income). Both of these alternatives will either prevent or end a license suspension.

[See DLF Website Form No. 7]

 

Work Permit Applications

Court orders are required for certain types of work permits, such as:

1. a work permit after 90 days of hard-time suspension on a one-year revocation for a test refusal in a first-time OWI/drunk driving case;
2. a work permit after one year of a two-year revocation for a test refusal in a second-time OWI/ drunk driving case;
3. a work permit after one year of a six-year revocation for a third-time OWI/drunk driving revocation;
4. a work permit following a DOT-imposed barment of your driver's license for certain multiple moving violations

[See DLF Website Forms Nos. 8-9]

If you need a work permit in such circumstances, you need to complete the appropriate DLF Website Forms and transmit them to the Dunahoo Law Firm for our review and any necessary contact with the DOT. If we determine that you are eligible for a work permit, we will transmit a retainer agreement to you with the expected costs. Usually, the application will be granted by the court without necessity of a hearing and thus no court appearance is necessary (unless there is some question about your eligibility for a work permit).

 

Traffic Tickets

It is advisable to consult with an attorney before paying certain traffic tickets because of the possibility of that ticket leading to a driver's license suspension by DOT or; even worse, a barment order by the DOT for certain multiple moving violations. It may be possible, in certain circumstances, to plea bargain with the county attorney or city attorney regarding the pending traffic ticket in order to avoid a suspension.

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DISCLAIMER:
This web site has been prepared by Dunahoo Law Firm for informational purposes only and nothing contained herein should be considered as legal advice. Viewing of information contained on this web site and communication with Dunahoo Law Firm via this web site shall not create an attorney-client relationship and one should not rely on information herein without seeking the advice of legal counsel.