Philadelphia Driving with a Suspended License Lawyer

Driving violations are common throughout Pennsylvania and the rest of the country. Do not feel too ashamed of your driving violations. Almost everyone will be pulled over, have the police run their license, and ticketed at some point in their lives. Some driving violations are rather serious, and drivers end up having their licenses suspended for a certain period of time. Some suspensions are very long while others are short, but all suspended drivers must refrain from operating a motor vehicle or face serious consequences.

If you are pulled over by the police while driving on a suspended license, you may face numerous penalties, including steep fines and jail time. Penalties may increase if you have previously been stopped for driving on a suspended license. The penalties may also vary depending on the underlying reason why your license is suspended. In any case, it may be possible to dispute the allegations against you or challenge the penalties.

If you were recently stopped by law enforcement and cited for driving on a suspended license, you might be in trouble. You could be slapped with heavy fines or even jail time. Our Philadelphia driving with a suspended license attorneys can help you. Call The Law Offices of Lloyd Long at (215) 302-0171 to schedule a free, private legal consultation with our experienced team.

Is It Illegal to Drive with a Suspended License in Philadelphia?

Driving while your license is suspended is illegal in Philadelphia and the rest of the state. According to 75 Pa.C.S. § 1501, all drivers must be properly licensed to operate a motor vehicle on the roads and highways of Pennsylvania. Driving without a license may only be legal under specific circumstances, such as student drivers. Driving on a suspended license, however, is almost always illegal.

Depending on your circumstances, there might be different penalties. For example, the penalties for someone driving on a suspended license because their license expired will not be the same as for a person driving on a license suspended for a DUI charge. If you are pulled over while driving on a suspended license, there may be ways to dispute the violation. Perhaps your license was improperly suspended or was recently reinstated.

If you are stopped while driving on a suspended license, it is critical to know when your license will be restored. Do not assume your license is automatically reinstated when your suspension period ends. You need confirmation from the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles. If you believe your license might be suspended, call our Philadelphia driving with a suspended license attorneys for help.

Penalties for Driving on a Suspended License?

According to 17 Pa.C.S. § 1543, when a person is pulled over by law enforcement and charged with driving on a suspended driver’s license, they may be guilty of a summary offense and fined $200. However, there may be other penalties depending on why your license was suspended.

If you were driving on a license that was suspended because of a DUI or refusal to submit to DUI testing, you may be fined $500 and sentenced to a jail term of at least 60 days but no longer than 90 days. If you are caught a second time driving on a license suspended because of a DUI or refusal to submit to testing, you may be fined $1,000 and be sentenced to a jail term of at least 90 days. A third or subsequent violation will result in a fine of $2,500 and a possible jail term of at least 6 months.

If you are intoxicated while driving on a license suspended for a previous alcohol-related violation, you may be fined $1,000 and sentenced to at least 90 days in jail for a first offense. A second violation may be met with a fine of $2,500 and at least 6 months in jail. A third or subsequent violation may result in a fine of $5,000 and at least 2 years in jail. Call our Philadelphia driving on a suspended license lawyers for help with your case.

Disputing Violations for Driving on a Suspended License in Philadelphia

It might be possible to dispute your charges if you think your license was suspended improperly. License suspensions may be imposed for a variety of different reasons. In some cases, they are imposed before the underlying criminal charges or civil action has been resolved. Perhaps your suspension should not have been imposed, or it has not yet been lifted.

On the other hand, fighting the charges may be more trouble than it is worth. Absent some sort of mistake by the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles, it might be almost impossible to dispute a license suspension. In such cases, it might be smarter to challenge your penalties rather than your charges. A first-time offense might be able to negotiate with prosecutors to reduce fines or avoid jail time.

You might also be able to explain yourself. If you truly believed your license had been reinstated while it was still suspended, the court might be more understanding of your situation. Alternatively, you might have been driving on a suspended license because of an emergency. For example, if your license was suspended, but you had to drive your injured friend to the emergency room, the court might sympathize and show leniency. Call our Philadelphia driving with a suspended license attorneys to discuss your case.

When Will My License Suspension in Philadelphia?

The length of a license suspension will vary from case to case. Suspensions related to more serious violations, like DUIs, may last much longer. Suspensions for more minor infractions may be completed in a few short months. License suspensions typically have an established start date and end date. However, these dates are not necessarily set in stone.

Suspensions may be extended for some drivers if they have not completed certain requirements, like taking defensive driving courses or completing drug and alcohol treatment. If you believe your suspension has finished, do not assume your license has automatically been reinstated. You need to contact the appropriate agency and confirm that your suspension is over and your license is valid once again.

Always double-check the requirements for reinstating your license. In some cases, your license is valid after your suspension is over. In other cases, you may need to get approval before your license is valid again. Our Philadelphia driving with a suspended license lawyers can help you figure out how to reinstate your license.

Call Our Philadelphia Suspended License Violation Attorneys

If you have been charged with driving on a suspended license, you may face some very harsh consequences. Our Philadelphia driving with a suspended license lawyers will help you fight the charges and penalties. Call The Law Offices of Lloyd Long at (215) 302-0171 to arrange a free legal consultation.