Driving with a Suspended License Can Result in Criminal Charges

 Posted on December 05, 2014 in Criminal Defense

In Connecticut, the Department of Motor Vehicles can suspend a driver’s license for a number of offenses. These can include offenses that are not even related to the operation of a vehicle. Your problems can quickly be compounded if you drive your vehicle while your license is suspended, because you could face criminal misdemeanor charges.

A driver’s license may be suspended for offenses that include, but are not limited to:

• DUI, including refusal to submit to a blood, breath or urine test;
• Unpaid tickets;
• Accumulation of DMV points;
• Failing to maintain car insurance; and
• Failing to make court-ordered child support payments by more than 90 days.

The length of time a license is suspended depends on the reason for the suspension, and can be anywhere from 30 days to a period of years. After the suspension period is over, you must reinstate your license before you can legally drive.

Although it may be tempting to drive while your license is suspended, doing so can carry serious criminal penalties. These include imposition of a fine of $100-$200 and up to 90 days in jail for a first offense, and imposition of a fine of $200-$600 and up to a year in jail for subsequent offenses. It also becomes more difficult to reinstate your driving privileges after additional offenses. In limited circumstances it is possible to obtain a special operator’s permit to drive to and from work or school.

If you have been notified that your driver’s license has been suspended, do not risk jail time by driving with a suspended license. If you have already been charged with driving with a suspended license, you need experienced legal counsel to protect your rights and obtain the best outcome. Contact a Stamford driver’s license suspension lawyer at the Law Offices of Daniel P. Weiner for help with your case.