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Driving While License Suspended

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Was your license suspended due to points or another criminal charge? This can make your life much more difficult, making it hard to get to work, school or just run errands. An experienced Orlando suspended license attorney can help you navigate the complex traffic and court systems to restore your driving privileges.

Defending What Matters Most

Suspended License Attorney in Florida

Orlando Suspended License Lawyer

The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) holds the authority to revoke or suspend a driver’s license for various reasons, both driving-related and non-driving-related. One criminal offense associated with these situations is Driving While License Suspended or Revoked (DWLSR), which can lead to severe consequences. 

In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the legal definition of the charge in Florida, potential penalties, how to fight these charges as well as how our experienced team at Frost Law can help protect your rights and driving privileges. 

Whether it’s a first offense or subsequent convictions, our team is equipped to provide diligent legal representation.

Driving While License Suspended or Revoked

In Florida, driving with a suspended license is charged when an individual knowingly operates a vehicle with a suspended or revoked driver’s license. It’s crucial to understand the distinction between suspension and revocation. Suspension refers to the temporary withdrawal of driving privileges, while revocation signifies the termination of such privileges. These definitions are outlined in Section 322.34 of the Florida Statutes. 

It can be alarming to realize that you’re now facing consequences especially if you did not know your license was suspended. This is true for many people who learn after being pulled over for a speeding ticket- the suspended license notice never made it to their house and the driver had no reason to believe they shouldn’t have been on the road.

If parking tickets or other citations piled up and your license was suspended, if you don’t know about it being told this can come as a surprise when pulled over. The officer might try to pressure you and could even refuse to believe you, but you do have rights. There are options to pursue ways to protect yourself if you have been accused of driving without a valid license. The important thing is to get yourself to a lawyer’s office in Orlando immediately to talk through options.

Handling an Allegation of Driving with a Suspended License

Have you been out on the road and were caught driving under a suspended license? The consequences for this can be serious in Orlando and you should not avoid consulting with an experienced criminal defense attorney. A criminal defense lawyer may be able to evaluate all of the facts of your case and to give you some options moving forward in order to protect yourself.

If you have been arrested and charged with driving while your license was suspended or revoked, the consequences of such a conviction can negatively impact your future. If you are convicted, and depending on your circumstances such as your criminal record and your prior driving record, you could be subjected to:

  • Community service
  • Having license revoked
  • Potential vehicle forfeiture
  • Additional suspension of your driving privileges
  • Steep fines
  • Lengthy probation terms
 

There are many different situations in which you could have your license suspended or revoked in Orlando. Regardless of your situation, you need an Orlando criminal defense attorney who has extensive experience with the law and can help you navigate this complex situation with compassion and care.

What Are The Penalties for driving While License Suspended In Florida?

Whether or not the violation was intentional and whether you have prior convictions on your record, they’ll influence the penalties for a suspended license allegation in Florida.The penalties for Driving While License Suspended or Revoked in Florida vary based on the number of offenses: 

  • First Offense: Classified as a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in the county jail or six months of probation. The maximum fine is $500. 
  • Second Offense: Elevated to a first-degree misdemeanor, carrying a sentence of up to 12 months in the county jail and a fine of $1,000. 
  • Third or Subsequent Offense: May be charged as a first-degree misdemeanor or, under certain circumstances, as a third-degree felony. A felony conviction could result in five years in Florida State Prison and a $5,000 fine. 

Defense Against Driving While License Suspended Charges

Crafting a strong defense is crucial when facing Driving While License Suspended charges. Our attorneys employ various strategies, such as challenging the evidence, questioning police procedures, and exploring legal loopholes. We understand the nuances of Florida law and work diligently to minimize the impact of these charges on our clients. 

What Charges Can Get Your License Suspended Or Revoked?

Some of the most common criminal charges in Florida that could lead to your license been suspended or revoked, include:

  • DUI conviction
  • Criminal or traffic violation point accrual
  • Status as a habitual traffic offender
  • Drug conviction
  • Illegal street racing conviction
  • Drinking and driving while under age
  • Failing to meet child support requirements
  • Failing to appear on court dates
  • Failing to pay traffic violation tickets or other fines
  • Some solicitation and prostitution conviction
 

Whether it’s getting your children where they need to go, keeping an important appointment, or earning a living, driving while your license is suspended can turn these obligations for your life into nearly impossible challenges. Three or more charges of a certain type of driving offense that happens within five years could mean that you are classified as a habitual traffic offender and serious penalties may apply. This status could follow you around for life.

A habitual traffic offender in Florida may face jail or prison time, up to five years of a mandatory license suspension, steep fines and permanent marks on your driving record.

How An Experienced Orlando Burglary Attorney Can Help

From the moment that you contact an experienced criminal defense attorney, you should be informed about how he or she intends to work on your case.  Attorney Frost can provide essential assistance in the following ways:  

  1. Legal Expertise: Attorney Frost has in-depth knowledge of Florida’s criminal laws and traffic regulations and can help you understand the charges or penalties you’re facing. 
  2. Defense Strategy: We will work closely with you to develop a tailored defense strategy that addresses the unique aspects of your case. 
  3. Evidence Evaluation: We will analyze, review and evaluate all evidence against you and the circumstances leading up to your arrest. 
  4. Negotiations: We will seek to have your criminal charges reduced, dropped or fight for a diversion program when appropriate.
  5. Trial Representation: If your case goes to trial, our skilled trial attorney will vigorously defend and protect your legal rights in court.
  6. Legal Guidance: We will provide you with clear, concise legal guidance throughout the legal process, ensuring you make informed decisions.

 

Your lawyer should be committed to keeping in touch with you. Going through the process of dealing with any infraction or other legal problem will most likely upset you and you want to ensure that your lawyer cares just as much about protecting your future and your driving ability as you do. Finding the right attorney makes a big difference, so as soon as you discover this problem, pick up the phone and make the call. No one wants to be in this position, but your ability to preserve your right to drive may depend on your willingness to take quick action with the help of an attorney.

One of the most common ways in which people find themselves facing these serious charges is by not even realizing that the driver’s license was suspended. In fact, certain people in Orlando don’t even know until they have been pulled over for a traffic stop and the office checks the motor vehicle record and informs them of a suspended license. Whether you have been arrested with a suspended or revoked licensed with or without knowledge, you need a lawyer who has experienced and is committed to fighting for you.

This is a serious offense in Florida, although many people fall into the myth that driving with a suspended or revoked license is a minor issue. If a prosecutor can illustrate that your violation of a revoked or suspended license was intentional, criminal misdemeanor charges may apply. This means you could be responsible for paying up to $500 in fines and could even spend up to 60 days in jail. For subsequent offenses, the consequences are even worse. 

Let Frost Law Fight Your Driving While License Suspend Charges

Seeking legal representation is essential when charged with Driving While License Suspended or Revoked. Our experienced attorney and former prosecutor guides clients through the legal process, provides expert advice, and formulates effective defense strategies. We aim to minimize criminal consequences, protect clients’ rights, and explore potential alternatives to incarceration. 

Attorney Frost is dedicated to providing strategic and personalized representation, guiding you through the legal process with expertise and compassion.

Our commitment to open communication, strategic advocacy, and a relentless pursuit of justice sets us apart. If you find yourself facing charges of Driving While License Suspended or Revoked  in Florida, don’t face it alone. Contact Frost Law for a confidential consultation, and let us help you protect what matters most.