Driving on a suspended license in California is one of the most common misdemeanor offenses in California and carries serious consequences if you are convicted. A person can have their license suspended for a number of reasons including, but not limited to, having too many points, being convicted of a DUI, failing to appear in court on a traffic or criminal matter, and failing to pay child support.
The penalties that one faces for a conviction of driving on a suspended license largely depends on whether the person has prior convictions for the same offense and what the underlying reason for the suspension was. Generally speaking, the more prior convictions one has for CVC 14601 the more serious the consequences will be for each new additional offense. Many courts will even impose jail time for those with multiple prior convictions under CVC 14601. Also if the person was initially suspended due to a DUI conviction then the penalties are typically the most severe for those offenders.
A person convicted of driving on a suspended license when the reason for the suspension was a DUI is facing:
• 3 years of informal probation,
• a minimum of 10 days and maximum of 6 months in county jail,
• $1000 base fine
• requirement that the defendant install an ignition interlock device in each vehicle they own or have access to
Adding insult to injury, the accused vehicle is normally impounded for 30 days at a cost that can exceed $1500.
Needless to say, the legal and financial penalties associated with driving on a suspended license in California are significant. However, there are viable defenses to this crime and the prosecution must be able to prove that you had knowledge of the suspension at the time you were driving. An aggressive and experienced criminal defense attorney can be crucial in helping to avoid all of the consequences that are associated with driving on a suspended license in California. The attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have been defending clients facing this crime for over 30 years. With offices located throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties, a Wallin & Klarich attorney is always available to assist you in your case. Call us today at 888-749-0034.
Matthew Wallin
