West Covina Suspended License Attorney

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can suspend or revoke an individual’s license if the driver commits certain traffic violations or certain other legal offenses. Most California license suspensions last for six months to three years. Still, in some cases, the state can withhold an individual’s license until he or she completes certain tasks or fills certain deficiencies.

While the individual’s license is suspended, they cannot legally operate a motor vehicle. If the individual is caught driving with a suspended license in California, it is considered a major offense, and the penalties are strict. While the consequences for driving with a suspended license vary depending on each case’s circumstances, penalties may consist of fines, jail time, or both. In most states, penalties will be stricter if it is not an isolated event. For example, an individual caught driving with a suspended license for the second time in five years will face higher fines and longer jail time than first-time offenders in California.

If a person’s license is suspended, the individual cannot drive until the DMV returns the license to them. For many people whose licenses have been suspended, the circumstance extends beyond mere inconvenience. Being unable to drive can drastically affect the life and livelihood of many individuals. Without a valid driver’s license, it can be difficult or even impossible to commute to and from work, school, the grocery store, and perform other necessary tasks.

If an individual’s license is suspended, the license will be reinstated after the specified time has passed. When the state revokes a person’s license, on the other hand, the license will remain invalid indefinitely. Drug- and alcohol-related driving offenses account for most revoked licenses in America. License revocations are meant to act as a punishment, dissuasion, and a way to protect the public from a habitually dangerous or reckless driver. Although it is rare to have a license reinstated once revoked, there are certain scenarios where an individual can earn their license back with the help of a revoked or suspended license attorney.

When Can a License Be Suspended in California?

While being able to drive is a necessity for many of us, driving is not necessarily a right. Rather, being able to drive is a privilege granted to us by the state in which we live. In America, we must earn the privilege of driving by passing driving tests, maintaining vehicle registration and insurance, as well as following the rules of the road and other laws. When an individual’s license is suspended, this privilege is temporarily withheld. The suspended license may be returned after a given time, or it may be withheld for an unspecified time and only returned after the individual has met certain requirements. There are several reasons an individual’s license could be suspended, including one or more of the following:

• Unpaid traffic tickets
• Multiple moving traffic violations
• Accumulated unpaid parking tickets
• A DUI charge or conviction
• Certain drug charges or convictions, including a petty misdemeanor
• Reckless driving
• Running from the scene of an accident
• Presenting fake license plates
• Ignoring court summons
• Making false statements or presenting false documentation to the DMV or officers of the law
• Failure to purchase or renew auto insurance
• Failure to pay child support

Your local DMV can provide more information about specific actions that can lead to a license suspension, as well as what can be done to get a license reinstated.

Caught Driving With a Suspended License in California

Many American’s rely on their ability to drive, whether it is for commuting to work, school, or running errands. When an individual’s license is suspended, they may be tempted to continue driving. They may feel they have no other choice, that it is worth the risk, or that they will not get caught if they are sure to stay within the speed limit. Tempting as this may be, driving with a suspended or revoked license is like playing with fire. After all, drivers can be pulled over for numerous reasons, including having a burned-out taillight they were not aware of or even for driving too slowly in the center lane. If an individual is caught driving with a suspended license, California’s penalties are strict and are often much more severe than for the original violation that caused the license to be suspended. Penalties for driving with a suspended license in California include:

• First offense:
  • Jail time up to six months
  • Fines between $300-$1,000
• Second offense in five years:
  • Jail time up to one year
  • Fines between $500-$2,000

Driving with a suspended or revoked license in California is considered a misdemeanor. Misdemeanor charges affect an individual’s permanent record and may limit their ability to find employment. It could also limit the individual’s access to federal assistance programs such as school grants and funding and certain housing, medical, and food assistance programs. If you are caught driving with a suspended license, contacting a suspended license defense attorney in West Covina is the best way to minimize fines and mitigate or reduce possible jail time and all other associated penalties.

How to Prevent Your License Being Suspended

If you break the law and face a possible license suspension or revocation, you should contact a West Covina suspended license attorney right away to begin building your defense. Skilled defense lawyers may be able to reduce the proposed jail time and fees or get the charges dropped altogether by:

1. Reducing the points being charged against your license.
2. Providing physical evidence that proves the officer’s allegations wrong or due to misconduct.
3. Proving you did not know your license was suspended when you drove.
4. Proving the unlawful action you took while driving was done to prevent an accident with another vehicle or protect a pedestrian.

An attorney can help you determine what actions could be taken or deficiencies that could be satisfied to get your license reinstated, such as making overdue child support payments or completing certain driver’s education programs.

With over ten years of practicing law and defending driving cases throughout California, the Law Office of Daniel P. Flores has the experience, knowledge, and expertise to help you regain your freedom and reduce or eliminate the driving charges you are facing. Contact the Law Office of Daniel P. Flores today. Call us at (626) 628-2573.