DRIVING ON A REVOKED OR SUSPENDED LICENSE

A charge of driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license is a serious charge. It is against the law to drive when your driver’s license is suspended or revoked. It is also against the law to drive if you do not have a license and your right to apply for one has been suspended or revoked.

A driver’s license can be suspended or revoked for a variety of reasons, including points suspensions, failures to pay tickets or judgments, and convictions for drug or alcohol offenses. The underlying reason for the suspension does not affect whether the motorist will be found guilty of the charge itself, but the underlying reason for suspension will factor into the sentencing phase of the case.

Driving on a revoked or suspended license is a misdemeanor in most states. The penalties generally range from fines to sentences of up to one year in jail. However, in certain circumstances, the offense will be considered a felony and the penalties imposed are much more severe. Most frequently, the offense will be considered a felony where the person’s license was suspended or revoked due to a conviction for driving under the influence of intoxicants. Additional penalties, depending on the state, include suspension of vehicle registrations and impounding of vehicles.

If you are charged with a driving on a revoked or suspended license you should immediately contact an experienced criminal law attorney. An experienced attorney can advise you on how to proceed in order to best protect your legal rights.