Driving with License Suspended

Driving with a suspended license (DWLS or DWLSR) may subject a person to criminal or non-criminal liability. Not all DWLS violations are criminal traffic violations. Driving while license suspended, without knowledge, is a civil infraction that is punishable by a fine.

Other offenses for driving on a suspended license with knowledge can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a third-degree felony offense, depending on the number of previous convictions. The driver's knowledge of whether his or her license was suspended often becomes the central issue in these cases.

Attorney for Driving with a Suspended License in Pensacola, FL

Being criminally charged with driving with a suspended license is stressful. It is important to have an experienced attorney on your side to explain your options and help you fight to lessen your chances of a criminal conviction with the possibility of high fines and jail time.

The best result in these cases is getting the criminal charges dropped altogether so that your arrest record can be expunged. Call John Terrezza at (850) 764-5291 or submit a free evaluation of your case at his office in Pensacola, FL.

If you or someone you know has, unfortunately, been charged with driving with a suspended license in Pensacola in Escambia County or Milton in Santa Rosa County, Florida, then call John Terrezza.

Call today at (850) 764-5291 for more information.

Driving with a Suspended License Defined under Florida Statute §322.34

Under Florida Statute §322.34(2), a person who drives when their license has been revoked, suspended, or canceled, and who knows that their driving privileges have been canceled, revoked, or suspended yet drives on the Florida highways is in violation of Florida law.

As long as a defendant does not have a prior conviction for a forcible felony, then he or she may be subject to one of the following penalties:

the first conviction is a second-degree misdemeanor. The penalty could include up to sixty days (60) in jail and up to $500 fines;

the second conviction is a first-degree misdemeanor, the penalty for which is punishable by up to twelve (12) months in jail and up to $1,000 fines;

subsequent convictions are punishable as third-degree felonies, which are subject to up to five years (5) in prison and up to $5,000 fines.

Driving with your licenses suspended, without knowledge, is only a civil infraction. Violators of DWLS without knowledge receive a civil traffic infraction.

Notice of Suspension in Florida

The following are some of the issues that could result in your driving privileges being suspended or revoked:

failing to comply with a civil penalty required in §318.15;
failing to pay child support;
failing to comply with attendance or other requirements for minors;
failing to pay financial obligations required under §322.245;
failing to maintain vehicular financial responsibility; or
being designated as a habitual offender.

Your driver’s licenses could be subject to a Florida D-6 Suspension for failure to pay certain traffic tickets, citations, or violations. An experienced attorney for criminal traffic offenses in Escambia County can help you clear the holds so that your driver's licenses may be reinstated.

Additional Resources

Drivers License Suspensions and Revocations –Visit the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) for more information about how to reinstate your driving privileges after a suspension.

Florida Statute §322.34 - Visit the Official Website of the Florida Senate for the full statute on driving with a suspended or revoked driver's license. Find out more about the statutory language and the definitions for phrases used in the statute. Also, learn more about the potential penalties and punishments for driving on a suspended license.

Find an Attorney for Driving with License Suspended in Escambia County, FL

If your license has been suspended and you still need to drive or have already been charged with driving with a suspended licenses, call an attorney that will fight for the best result. Call John Terrezza at (850) 764-5291 to see what potential solutions are available to you, or go online for a free evaluation of your case.

If you or someone you know has, unfortunately, been charged with driving with a suspended license in Pensacola, Florida, call John Terrezza, an attorney who will fight to help you get your driver's license reinstated.

This article was last updated on Tuesday, December 13, 2016.