If your license has been suspended and you are caught operating a vehicle anyway, then you could be looking at misdemeanor conviction and an even longer suspension on your driver’s license. However, in many instances, even if your license is suspended, you have a compelling reason to be driving. You may not have understood the rules of your license; you may not have even known your license was suspended; you may have had a medical emergency where you had to drive. When it comes to driving under license suspension laws, it is not just black and white. An experienced Minneapolis traffic offense lawyer can find the grey area and ensure your legal rights are protected.

Why Was my License Suspense?

Your license suspension terms will depend on the crime you have committed. One of the most common reasons for license suspension is DWI convictions. You could be looking at a license suspension in the following instances:

• BWI/ AWI/ SWI – if you are convicted of boating, snowmobiling or ATVing while intoxicated, you could lose your license for 90 days. This suspension is ‘in season’. For example, a boating license suspension will occur only in the summer months while a snowmobiling license suspension will begin in the winter months.
• Criminal vehicular homicide – if you guilty of DWI resulting in a CVO, you will most likely lose your license for up to one year
• Commercial truck license – even if you are convicted of a DWI while operating a standard car, you can still lose your CDL. In many instances, this also means the loss of your job and your income.
• First offense DWI – even if this is your first offense, you could still lose your license for 30 days or more
• Felony DWI – most felony DWI arrests come with a license suspension for at least one year
• Test refusal – if you are arrested for a DWI and refuse to take the field sobriety tests, breathalyzer or other standard DWI tests, then you could lose your license for one year
• Underage DWI – under the Vanessa Law, if you are found guilty of DWI under the age of 21, then you will lose your license for 30 to 180 days

Arrested with a Suspended License? All is not lost. A Minneapolis traffic lawyer can help

Regardless of the circumstances surrounding your original license suspension, you will need to speak to a qualified traffic offense lawyer about what your next plan of action is. Losing your license the first time around can be hard enough. The last thing you want to worry about is having your license taken away for even longer.

Driving with a Suspended License Regulations

Driving on a suspended, revoked or canceled license is considered a misdemeanor offense and comes with a 90 day prison sentence and fines up to $1,000. You could also be looking at additonal suspension time as well as a poor insurance rating from now on.  However, you may be able to reduce your sentence and walk away with a non-guilty plea with the right Minneapolis legal advice. Losing your license can negatively impact your driving and insurance record; however, do not risk your criminal record as well by accepting a driving on a suspended license conviction.

Call Judith Samson at 612-333-8001 Today!

With the right Minneapolis traffic violation lawyer, you may be able to avoid a driving under suspended license violations and walk away with a clean slate. It all depends on your situation, your representation and what county court you are facing.

For fast, effective and aggressive legal representation, contact experienced Minneapolis criminal defense attorney Judith Samson 24/7 at 612-333-8001.