MAGNOLIA PARK FL DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE DEFENSE LAWYERS

The criminal defense lawyers at Arnesen Law represent clients facing various traffic offenses, including driving with a suspended license, speeding, and careless driving in Magnolia Park, Atlantis, and Belle Glade.

In fact, Jay Arnesen now channels his knowledge as a former police officer who used to issue traffic tickets for the State to work on behalf of citizens charged with criminal and traffic offenses in Florida.

Arnesen has trained the lawyers at his firm in order to equip them with his unique skills in defending criminal and traffic cases in municipalities throughout South Florida. Contact the Arnesen Law Boca Raton or Fort Lauderdale office locations  anytime at 561-419-9630 to speak with one of the firm’s attorneys at no cost.

“As a former police officer, I used to help prosecute these charges for the State. Now, let me use my training and experience to combat these charges for you in court.” Jay Arnesen, Esq., Criminal Defense Attorney

Driving with a Suspended License Violations in Florida

Title XXIII of the Florida Statutes pertains to Motor Vehicles, detailing the specific laws associated with driver’s licenses in Chapter 322. In Chapter 322, Section 34, the State addresses offenses involving persons accused of driving with a license that has been suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified.

As described in more detail below, those who are presumed to have knowledge of the invalidity of their license are subject to harsher punishments than those whom the State cannot prove were aware of the status of their driver’s license at the time of the offense.

According to this section, the element of knowledge is satisfied if the person has been previously cited for driving with a suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified license or said individual admits to knowingly driving with a license that has been suspended, revoked, canceled, or otherwise deemed invalid in Florida.

As provided by 322.34 – “Driving while license suspended, revoked, canceled, or disqualified”:

(1)    Except as provided in subsection (2), any person whose driver’s license or driving privilege has been canceled, suspended, or revoked, except a “habitual traffic offender” as defined in s. 322.264, who drives a vehicle upon the highways of this state while such license or privilege is canceled, suspended, or revoked is guilty of a moving violation, punishable as provided in chapter 318.

(2)    Any person whose driver’s license or driving privilege has been canceled, suspended, or revoked as provided by law, except persons defined in s. 322.264, who, knowing of such cancellation, suspension, or revocation, drives any motor vehicle upon the highways of this state while such license or privilege is canceled, suspended, or revoked, upon:

(a)    A first conviction is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(b)    A second conviction is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(c)    A third or subsequent conviction is guilty of a felony of the third degree.

Driving with a Suspended License – Potential Penalties

Driving with a Suspended License Moving Violation: fines, points added to the defendant’s driver’s license, and even jail time if the person has accumulated a number of points that exceeds a certain threshold

Second Degree Misdemeanor Driving with a Suspended License Offense: maximum term of 60 days in the county jail, up to 6 months of probation, and fines not to exceed $500

First Degree Misdemeanor Driving with a Suspended License Offense: maximum term of 1 year in the county jail and fines not to exceed $1,000

Third Degree Felony Driving with a Suspended License Offense: maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, up to 5 years of probation, and fines not to exceed $5,000