Defending a Traffic Law Violation Charge
Having a clear understanding of the traffic laws and your driving license status is a prerequisite for most US states. Florida is no exception. Moreover, this state treats driving while license suspended as a serious charge and penalties increase with the frequency of your committing it.
You can face a drivers’ license suspension or revocation for many reasons. It may be something traffic related, like failure to pay traffic fines or a DUI (driving under influence) conviction, or something else, like failure to pay child support or failure to appear at court for a hearing.
What happens if you drive while under suspension? Here is the answer.
If you have capable defense strategy in place, you may be able to prove that you were not aware of the suspension/revocation. A law firm specializing in DUI could be able to help establish this. If this is possible, you may walk away with paying a simple fine (it is a minor civil offense).
However, if you were aware of the suspension (you were caught while under the same suspension or you admitted to it), it attains the status of a criminal offense. What are penalties for driving while license suspended in Florida? Here are the details.
- For the first offense (2nd degree misdemeanor), you may face imprisonment, maximum 60 days in the county jail, and/or fines, maximum $500.
- For the second offense (1st degree misdemeanor), you may face imprisonment, maximum 365 days in the county jail, and/or fines, maximum $1,000.
- For the third offense (3rd degree felony), you may face incarceration, maximum 5 years in prison, and/or fines, maximum $5,000. This applies to subsequent offenses as well.
You sure do not want to go through this ordeal without legal advice and representation. You need to find a drivers license law firm Miami that has qualified and experienced legal practitioners for the task. How do you find such a firm? Apart from credentials and experience, you need to check out a few other essentials.
Here are a few tips that could come in handy.
- Do choose a reputed law firm.
- Do not base your choice on ads; do your research.
- Do check client testimonials.
- Do not forget to ask for an initial consultation.
- Do look for legal help on time.
Keep in mind these points when you are looking for a Florida board certified attorney or law firm. Putting up a good defense is necessary if you want to avoid going to jail or paying hefty fines.