Driving is a privilege, not a right like many people in the Rossville area believe. When you abuse the privilege, it can be taken away. One of the questions we often receive at Harriss and Hartman Law Firm, P.C., concerns what happens after a person is caught driving on a suspended license. If you are one of them, take a few moments to review the following information and how it may pertain to your situation.
Driving with a suspended license is a crime. It can result in you receiving a misdemeanor or felony charge. Both types of charges will give you a criminal record that can follow you for the rest of your life. It carries penalties that can interfere with your livelihood and ability to reinstate your driving privileges. Offenders must pay fines, reinstatement fees and satisfy other requirements to have their driving privileges reinstated.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, a felony driver’s license suspension can result in you receiving a prison sentence of up to five years. A misdemeanor often results in significantly less time than a felony. All first-time offenders spend a minimum of two days in jail and can receive a maximum incarceration sentence of one year. Misdemeanor suspensions are for first, second and third time offenders. Felonies are given to anyone who drives on a suspended license a fourth time or more.
There are other factors that can affect your driving privileges, criminal record and freedom. There may be additional legal penalties if there is property damage, injury, other criminal activity or a history of driver’s license suspensions. To learn more about this matter, please visit our web page.
