A driver whose license has been suspended or revoked following arrest for a DUI/DWI charge may sometimes apply for an occupational or restricted driver’s license to perform essential life functions until the driver is able to seek to have their driver’s license reinstated. This temporary and limited driver’s license is known by a number of names, including an occupational license, a restricted license, an essential need license, a hardship license, or a limited driving privilege (LDP) license.

Laws regarding the availability and use of such restricted licenses vary from state to state but generally allow the driver to drive to and from (1) work; (2) school, college, or university; (3) places the driver must visit to maintain the household, including the grocery store or market, pharmacy, laundromat, and gas station; (4) church or place of worship; (5) medical appointments; and (6) court-ordered alcohol treatment and rehabilitation programs. Driving to visit family or friends or to attend social events is not permitted on a restricted license.

A person applying for an occupational or restricted driver’s license will be required to pay application fees to the department of motor vehicles and will often be required to submit an SR-22 proof of insurance form (see the related subtopic).

Laws regarding the availability and use of restricted licenses following a DUI/DWI arrest are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the vehicle code, motor vehicle code, or transportation code.

In North Carolina, a driver whose license has been suspended or revoked due to a DUI/DWI charge may be eligible to apply for a limited driving privilege (LDP) license. This type of license allows the individual to drive for essential purposes, such as to and from work, school, household maintenance locations, places of worship, medical appointments, and court-ordered treatment programs. The LDP is not valid for driving to social events or for visiting family and friends. To apply for an LDP, the individual must pay application fees to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) and may be required to provide an SR-22 proof of insurance form. The specific regulations and requirements for obtaining an LDP after a DUI/DWI arrest are outlined in North Carolina's General Statutes, particularly in the sections dealing with motor vehicles and traffic laws.