Petitioning the court for Specialized Driving Privileges

July 29, 2019/Chad Rollins/

How to obtain Specialized Driving Privileges in Indiana

Our previous posts dealt with the evolution in Indiana law from hardship licenses to Specialized Driving Privileges “SDP” and SDP eligibility.  This post will deal specifically with the petition to a court for Specialized Driving Privileges.

The Petition

Indiana Code Section 9-30-16-4(b) specifies the requirements for a petition filed under this law. The SDP petition must:

  • Be Verified by the petitioner;
  • Include the petitioner’s age, date of birth, and address;
  • State the grounds for relief and the relief sought;
  • Be filed in the petitioner’s county of residency or under the court case that resulted in the order of suspension; and
  • Be served on the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (the “BMV”) and the prosecuting attorney.

There are additional criteria depending on the circumstances, but if the necessary criteria is met, the court will order a hearing on the petition. The prosecuting attorney will appear on behalf of the BMV to respond to the petition.  If the court awards SDP, there are some universal guidelines which must be followed for the duration of the SDP. The person rewarded privileges must:

  • Maintain proof of future financial responsibility insurance; 
  • Carry a copy of the order granting SDP or have the order in the vehicle being operated by the individual;
  • Produce the copy of the order granting SDP upon request of a police officer; and
  • Carry a validly issued state identification card or driver’s license.
  • A person with a commercial driver’s license (“CDL”) can obtain SDP but may not operate any commercial vehicle.

An individual may petition the court for a number of driving privileges such as travel to work, parenting obligations, or doctor appointments.  However, SDP can vary widely from case to case and are not automatically granted. The court has complete discretion on whether to grant all or none of the petitioner’s requests.  Therefore, it is very important to consult an attorney when petitioning the court for SDP. A knowledgeable attorney can help draft the petition, knows which courts are more likely to grant certain requests, and in some circumstances, can help avoid having to go to court at all.

If a suspension on your license is causing chaos in your life, contact Rollins Law Group to see if you are eligible for Indiana’s Specialized Driving Privileges to get you the relief you need from overbearing restrictions on your license. Contact us today at 317-558-9677 for a free consultation, or contact us online to make arrangements.

These materials are intended for general information purposes only.  Accordingly, they do not and are not intended to constitute legal advice or legal opinion. You should consult with legal counsel to determine how laws or decisions discussed herein apply to your specific circumstances.

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Chad Rollins

Chad is the managing attorney for Rollins Law Group. Chad’s practice emphasizes cost-effective solutions that seek to avoid unnecessary litigation while minimizing costs and risk. He focuses on real estate, landlord-tenant, business services, creditor-debtor law, specialized driving privileges and estate planning.

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