Penalties for Driving with a Suspended License | Bradley Corbett
Let’s say you are driving yourself to work and get pulled over by a police officer for a brake light being out. When the police officer asks for your driver’s license and looks up your information, they discover that your license is invalid due to suspension. If that happens, you will probably face some harsh punishments.
Before we go into specific fines and penalties, here are some reasons why you may have had your license suspended:
- Having a previous DUI or hit-and-run
- Having a history of driving recklessly or negligently
- Having a physical or mental condition (visual impairment, epilepsy, diabetes, age) that prevents you from driving a car responsibly
- Having been determined incompetent to drive
- Having had a car accident without proof of insurance
- Unpaid tickets
- Failure to appear in court
- Failure to pay child support
The Consequences
There are certain consequences for driving with a suspended license. If you are a first-time offender, you can expect:- Fines from $300 to $1,000
- County jail time from 5 days to more than 6 months
- Fines from $500 to more than $2,000
- County jail time from 10 days to more than 1 year
Defenses an Attorney Can Use in Your Case
A professional defense attorney can help you through every step of the legal process. He will help you understand the charges against you, the potential penalties you’re facing, and how you can be defended in court. In order to be found guilty of driving on a suspended license, it must be proven that you knew you had a suspended license at the time the charge was given to you. If you can prove that you weren’t aware of the license suspension, you will have a good chance of getting your charges reduced or even dismissed. There are also circumstances where a driver with a suspended license can apply for a restricted license. A restricted license would allow you to drive during the suspension in order to get to work, school, community service, or certain other approved activities. Other restrictions may include the times of day, days of week, and areas to which you may drive. However, this restricted license offers much more freedom and flexibility for you to maintain your job, your education, and a stable family life. Another option, for a driver whose license was suspended for an alcohol or drug-related offense, is to apply for an ignition interlock restricted license which tests your breath for alcohol consumption before allowing the car to turn on. This permits you to drive as long as you are sober. If you want help defending yourself against the harsh consequences of driving with a suspended license, or help to apply for a restricted license or an ignition interlock device, contact Bradley Corbett 24/7 for a free consultation!
Bradley Corbett
Bradley Corbett is a criminal defense attorney in San Diego. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo Utah in 2004. Later he enrolled at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego where he participated in a prestigious internship program with the Los Angeles County Public Defender. Since then he has handled over 2,000 cases.