If you have heard someone talking about getting a ‘Cinderella license’ in the state of Massachusetts, what they are really talking about is a hardship license. No matter what you call it, a Cinderella license is a great opportunity to get you back out on the road after losing your license. However, these licenses are not given out simply for asking, so you need to make sure to follow all of the proper steps in order to give yourself the best chance at approval.
License Suspension
Before you even need to think about applying for a Cinderella license, you will need to have had your regular driver’s license suspended for some kind of offense. This is often a DUI, but it could be for other reasons. Whatever the case, you will quickly realize how damaging the loss of your license is to the quality of your day to day life. Not only will you feel stuck by having to rely on other modes of transportation to get around, those in your life who need you to take them places will be stranded as well. Getting back on the road legally should be one of your top priorities when you encounter this situation.
Not a Full License
It is important to understand that being issued a Cinderella license is not the same thing as getting your full driver’s license back. The main difference is the restriction that will be placed on the hours during which you can drive. You’ll likely only be permitted to drive for 12-hours out of the 24-hours in a day. Those hours will be outlined as part of your license approval, and you will need to stick to them in order to avoid further trouble. Obtaining a Cinderella license is not something that you should take for granted, and you certainly don’t want to blow your chance once you’ve been given this opportunity.
So, if you are only allowed to drive during a portion of the day, is it really worth it to pursue this type of license? In a word, yes. While you would love to have your full license back, that isn’t likely to happen at the moment, due to the offense or offenses you have committed. As such, this is your next best option. By getting a Cinderella license, you should be able to do important things like drive to work, run errands, attend doctor appointments, and more. In other words, you can keep up with your life, which is something that was likely much more difficult when you couldn’t drive at all.
Demonstrating Your Hardship
Once you have decided that you are going to apply for a Cinderella license, it will be up to you to demonstrate your hardship to the RMV. You need to understand right from the start that the RMV is under no obligation to issue you a hardship license, so you should not go into the process thinking it is just a formality. It is not a formality, and you certainly can be denied.
The burden is on you to prove that you have a legitimate hardship and need to be able to drive during certain hours of the day. By clearly documenting your need to drive – such as needing to get back and forth to work each day – you may be able to convince the hearing officer that you deserve to receive a Cinderella license.
Taking It Seriously
Those who are issued a hardship license by the state of Massachusetts should feel fortunate to have this opportunity, and it should not be taken for granted. As such, you will want to make sure that you are extremely careful to follow the conditions of your license each and every day. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that it will be okay to break the restrictions of your license just once or twice. It only takes once to get caught driving at the wrong time, and you will be at risk of losing your Cinderella license and being in even worse shape than you were before. If you do receive a hardship license, give this opportunity the respect it deserves.
As you might imagine, it is a good idea to work with an experienced attorney when applying for a Cinderella license. While it is not required to do so, working with an attorney should help you present your case properly to the RMV. Remember, the law does not provide you any sort of right to receive a hardship license, so you’ll want to make a compelling case when you have your hearing. By teaming up with an attorney who is familiar with this process, you can put yourself in a good position. Please feel free to contact us today for more information on what we can offer in this situation.