Your license was recently suspended and now you’re left with no way to get around. If you’re considering taking the risk and driving anyway, you should first familiarize yourself with how the State of Florida penalizes those who choose to operate their vehicle with a suspended license.
According to Florida Statue §322.34, any person who has had their driving privileges canceled, suspended, or revoked (with the exception of a “habitual traffic offender” as defined in s. 322.264) that is caught operating a motor vehicle, shall be faced with the following penalties:
Now, if your license was suspended for any of the following reasons and you are caught operating your vehicle during the suspension period, you could be charged and convicted of a felony of the third degree:
Now that you understand how Florida penalizes individuals who operate their vehicle while their license is suspended, it is worth noting a driver may or may not be taken to jail when caught committing the offense. You see, while there are some officers who may arrest you on the spot and take you to the station, there are others who may issue a notice to appear. By definition, a notice to appear is “a written order issued by a law enforcement officer in lieu of physical arrest requiring a person accused of violating the law to appear in a designated court or governmental office at a specified date and time” [Source: Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.125].
Rather than take the risk, it is best to not drive at all.
What should I do if I was caught operating my vehicle on a suspended license in Winter Park, FL?
If you were caught operating your vehicle on a suspended license, contact The Law Office of Donald A. Lykkebak to speak with a Winter Park, FL criminal defense lawyer. A criminal defense attorney can fight your charges and potentially get them reduced.