San Diego Driving Without A License Attorney

About Driving With a Suspended License Charges in California

If you have had your driver’s license suspended or revoked, you might be tempted to drive, hoping your chances of getting pulled over will be slim. If you are stopped by the police though, you’ll certainly regret the decision, as driving on a suspended or revoked license, charged under California Vehicle Code 14601.1 (a) (VC), carries a number of very serious consequences. If you are being charged with driving after having your license suspended or license, please call attorney Peter M. Liss.

Reasons For DMV License Suspensions

There are many reasons your driving privileges can be revoked or suspended. These may include:

• Being charged with a DUI
• Getting convicted of certain drug crimes
• Failing to maintain auto insurance
• Forgetting to file a SR1 traffic collision report after an accident
• Being convicted for many offenses in the juvenile court system
• Having a medical condition that prevents you from driving safely
• Neglecting to pay child support
• Failing to appear in court on a traffic ticket
• Being convicted for vehicular homicide
• Getting too many points on your DMV record
• and more

In some limited cases, the DMV may even permanently prohibit someone from legally driving. This is almost always because someone has been convicted of using a motor vehicle as a deadly weapon in an act of road rage or due to someone being a habitual traffic offender who was caught driving before their license was reinstated.

Call a License Suspension Lawyer Immediately

Whatever the reason for the suspension or revocation of your license, driving with a suspended license is a misdemeanor criminal charge, and you can be arrested and taken into custody. This is a serious charge that requires a top criminal defense lawyer. It’s also worth mentioning that the US Supreme Court has held that the simple fact that a vehicle belongs to someone with a suspended license is sufficient grounds for the police to pull someone over, so it is difficult to argue that the officer lacked reasonable suspicion to stop a vehicle in these cases.

Penalties for Driving with a License Suspension

Violating a driver’s license suspension or revocation is a misdemeanor charge punishable by a fine of up to $1000 and six months in jail. This offense will also result in the DMV adding two points to your driving record and these points will still be added even if your defense attorneys are able to plea the case down to an infraction. A driver who gets four points in a year is considered a negligent operator and faces an additional six month DMV suspension.

The consequences may be increased if you have prior criminal driving convictions and, in cases where your received a license suspension after getting a DUI, you may be forced to install an ignition interlock device on your car. If you have been declared a habitual traffic offender after you were involved in a number of serious car accidents, moving citations or automobile-related crimes and are then convicted for driving with a suspended license, you could have your driving privileges permanently revoked and you could also face a mandatory vehicle impoundment.

However, alternative sentences may be given in certain cases. Because the potential penalties are severe, it is important to obtain an skilled criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to obtain the best results under the particular facts and law of your case. Your attorney’s knowledge of defenses, sentencing guidelines, and alternative sentencing options will be vital to obtaining the best possible outcome given your specific circumstances.

Defenses to the Charges

Each case requires a different defense, which is why it’s so critical to never speak with the police without a skilled lawyer at your side. Possible defenses to driving with a suspended license include showing that you were not actually driving at the time, were driving on private property (which does not include a parking lot open to the public), that you actually did have a valid license at the time you were stopped, that you were not aware that your license was suspended or revoked, that you were only driving as a result of a legitimate emergency and more.

How a Vista Suspended License Lawyer Can Help

When you hire me as your lawyer, I will help you in every way I can. This means keeping you advised and updated about your case, arguing to have your bail reduced or to have you released on your own recognizance if you were arrested after getting pulled over and making court motions on your behalf, such as suppressing evidence that was gathered illegally. I will also investigate your case and gather evidence to support your defense.

Early in your case I will work to have your charges dropped or reduced whenever possible, then I will relentlessly fight for you in a plea bargain or trial. For most cases, you will not need to go to court. If you are convicted, I will always strive to get you the lowest possible sentence or an alternative sentence such as house arrest or community service.

My Law Offices Make Things Easy

When you contact my offices, someone will always answer no matter what the day or time thanks to my 24-hour, in-person answering service. I promise a courteous and prompt response because I know how scary it can be to face criminal charges like these. My offices are conveniently located, accept all major credit cards and both locations offer free parking. My Vista law firm is directly across the street from the North County San Diego Jail and Courthouse. My Carmel Valley office is more centrally located in San Diego County, located beside the 5 and 805 freeways.

Personal Service and Quality Representation

From your initial consultation to the time your case is resolved, I will be the only attorney to handle your case. I assure all my clients they will receive top-quality representation for a reasonable fee and have the experience to back up this guarantee, starting with a law degree from the prestigious University of California, Berkeley Law School. Over the 35 years I have been practicing law, I have tried over 100 criminal trials including many charges related to driving without a license or driving on a suspended or revoked license.