Driving on a Suspended License in San Diego Can Have Serious Repercussions

If you are arrested for driving on a suspended driver’s license, the consequences are significant because this is not just an infraction like speeding.  When you operate a motor vehicle after your license has been suspended, the offense constitutes a misdemeanor violation, which can result in county jail time and a significant fine.  Further, prosecutors and judges are aggressive about pursuing these cases to promote public safety because driver’s licenses typically are suspended because motorists accrue too many points on their driving record, suffer from a physical or mental disabilities that impairs their ability to drive, or experience a DUI conviction.  In other words, individuals facing a charge of driving on a suspended license cannot expect leniency because law enforcement officers and prosecutors view violations as a threat to the safety of others who share the road.

An individual who is cited for driving on a suspended driver’s license should seek representation from an experienced San Diego Criminal Defense Attorney because they are facing significant penalties.  This serious driving offense is considered a misdemeanor rather than a traffic infraction.  The specific punishment will depend on the reason the individual’s driver’s license was suspended or revoked and the motorist’s prior record, including convictions for driving-related offense.  Further, driving with a suspended driver’s license is a “priorable” offense, so subsequent offenses necessarily result in harsher penalties.

Driving on a suspended license offenses in California are governed by a number of different sections of the California Vehicle Code with each subject to its own penalties.  The penalty for a first offense under each provision is outlined below:

VC Section 14601 Suspension or Revocation for Negligent or Reckless Driving

County jail time 5 day to 6 months;

Fines of $300 to $1,000; and

Informal probation up to maximum of 3 years

VC Section “Catch All” Provision Suspension Revocation for Reasons Other Than Those Specified in Other Provisions

Informal probation up to a maximum of 3 years; and

County jail time up to 6 months; and/or

Fines of $300 to $1,000

VC Section 14601.2 Suspension or Revocation for Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

County jail time for 10 day to 6 months;

Fines of $300 to $1,000;

Informal probation up to maximum of 3 years; and

Installation of an ignition interlock device (IID)

VC Section 14601.3 Designation as Habitual Traffic Offender

30 days in county jail to one year;

Informal probation up to maximum of 3 years; and

$1,000 fine

VC Section 14601.5 Refusing to Submit to a Chemical Test of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)

Informal probation up to a maximum of 3 years;

Up to six months in county jail; and/or

Fines of $300 to $1,000

These are just some of the harsh consequences of a conviction if you are convicted for driving in San Diego or the surrounding areas of Southern California on a suspended driver’s license.  The costs will be substantially higher than the fines indicated above because your vehicle will likely also be impounded.  The cost to get your vehicle returned can be prohibitively expensive because a first offense might result in your vehicle being impounded for up to six months and up to a year for subsequent offenses.  A motorist’s vehicle might even be permanently seized for driving on a suspended license depending on the specific circumstances.

If your vehicle has been seized and/or you are facing the severe penalties associated with driving on a suspended license in Southern California, San Diego Criminal Defense Lawyer Ashby Sorensen is committed to tenaciously defending those charged with serious driving offenses, misdemeanors, and felonies.  Call the Law Offices of Ashby Sorensen today at (858) 999-6921 to schedule a free consultation.