Driving with a Suspended License

Santa Monica Criminal Defense Attorney

Driving with a suspended license is a crime in the state of California, and a conviction can result in fines of up to one thousand dollars and jail time of up to six months. An individual facing these charges would need experienced criminal defense counsel to help them get the charges either mitigated or dropped. The onus in such a case would be on the prosecution to prove that the accused was driving the vehicle, that the their license was in fact suspended at the time, and that he or she knew of this suspension prior to taking the wheel.

The DMV can suspend or revoke one's license for a long list of potential reasons, including failure to pay child support, medical issues, failure to file an SR1 report following an accident, and for too many points on one's driving record, among other reasons. In some cases the individual is unaware that they are driving with a suspended license, finding out only while being charged with a crime and arrested by law enforcement officers. If you are facing driving with a suspended license charges, it is imperative that you contact a knowledgeable Santa Monica criminal defense attorney immediately in order to help you avoid a conviction.