Suspended Driver’s License Information
Nobody Has the Right to Drive
In no state does there exist a right to drive. Driving is a privilege granted and regulated by the states, which can be suspended or revoked when drivers abuse that privilege. A suspension is a temporary denial of driving privileges, which expires after a predetermined amount of time, while a revocation is a permanent denial of those privileges, which can only be reinstated by applying for a new license. Each state will vary in how it assesses the kinds of behavior that constitute a suspension or revocation, but typically, operating a vehicle under the influence, operating a vehicle without insurance, failing to appear for certain legal proceedings, or failing to pay licensing fees or fines can all result in the suspension or revocation of a license.
Not the End of the World
To anyone who has his or her license suspended or revoked, it might seem like the end of the world. Many drivers depend on their ability to drive a car in order to make a living, either to commute the long distance between home and work or as a part of their occupational duties. Many families depend on an adult’s ability to drive in order to get kids back and forth to school or to transport an adult student back and forth to classes. Even though the law does not consider driving a right, it does not seek to make the lives of those who enter the criminal justice system more difficult than when they entered, particularly when a person is convicted of less serious offenses and/or when that person has never been in trouble before.
Suspended Driver’s License
Serious Consequences
A person who has had their driver’s license suspended or revoked should never, under any circumstances, operate a motor vehicle. Anyone found driving on a suspended or revoked license can face heavy fines and serious charges in addition to whatever fines or charges they faced to lose their license in the first place. In addition, they face having their vehicle towed, imprisonment, probation, extended license sanctions, or any combination of the above. Driving on a suspended or revoked license is like playing Russian roulette with your driving privileges and your freedom and is never a good idea.
Avoid Further Fines & Charges; Contact an Attorney
Instead of taking the risk of driving on a suspension or revocation, drivers who have had their licenses suspended or revoked should contact a professional criminal defense attorney who can help them petition the court for a conditional driver’s license. A conditional driver’s license would allow a person to obtain limited driving privileges under special circumstances. For example, a conditional license may allow a student to drive back and forth to school or a business professional to drive back and forth to work. Since the suspension or revocation of a driver’s license is meant to serve as punishment, a conditional license may not be used to run errands, shuttle friends, or do anything other than what the license was granted for. Violating the terms of a conditional license can carry the same consequences as driving on a suspended or revoked license.
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David M. Mirsky of the Mirsky Law Firm is a criminal defense attorney practicing in Mineloa, NY. He has more than 20 years of criminal defense experience.
