Driving on a Suspended License
If your driver’s license was suspended due to a traffic violation, criminal offense, or other reason, you can face additional penalties if you are caught driving with a suspended license. The Indianapolis criminal defense lawyers at The Criminal Defense Team of Baldwin Perry & Wiley PC can review the new charges against you and explain how we can help during a free, no-obligation consultation.
Common Reasons Drivers’ Licenses Are Suspended or Revoked
Drivers’ licenses can be suspended or revoked for many reasons. Some of the most common reasons for this administrative action include:
- Driving without insurance
- Operating a vehicle while impaired
- Accumulating too many traffic points
- Committing reckless homicide in a vehicle
- Failing to pay child support
Indiana uses a point system that assigns a specific number of points for each traffic violation, making repeat traffic violations one of the most common reasons for losing driving privileges. A driver’s license can be suspended when a driver accumulates 20 or more points within a two-year timeframe.
Indiana Driver’s License Reinstatement Process
After your driver’s license is suspended, you must take proactive steps to have your driving privileges restored. Even if you have completed all of the other conditions of your criminal charge, such as attending drug and alcohol testing and completing probation, the reinstatement process is not automatic. You have to pay a reinstatement fee and complete a form before you can receive your reinstated driver’s license.
The reinstatement fee depends on the number of times your license has previously been suspended. If this is your first time, the reinstatement fee is $250. For a second suspension, the fee is $500. The fee is $1,000 for a third or subsequent suspension. Depending on the reason for the suspension, you may have to complete additional requirements before your driving privileges are restored, such as getting current on child support payments.
Penalties for Driving on a Suspended License
If you drive while your license is suspended or revoked, you can face additional penalties, including fines and jail time. The classification of the crime and the potential penalties you could face depend on the circumstances. It could be charged as an infraction, misdemeanor, or felony.
For many people, this offense is considered a class A infraction, which carries a fine of up to $10,000. If a driver has a previous violation for the same offense within ten years or the suspension was due to committing certain crimes, they can be charged with a class A misdemeanor, which has a maximum penalty of up to one year in jail and a fine of $5,000. If the driver drives on a suspended or revoked license and is involved in a motor vehicle accident that kills or seriously injures someone, they can be charged with a felony and face up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
In addition to these penalties, they can face longer suspension periods.
Contact Us Today for Help with Your Criminal Charges
If you have been charged with driving while on a suspended license, you need The Criminal Defense Team to defend your rights. Call us at (317) 678-9853 to arrange a free case review.