Rhode Island License Suspension Attorney

Most people take driving for granted today. There are 222 million licensed drivers as of 2016 in the United States. It’s an essential. Driving gets you to work, takes your children to school, and more. What happens when you lose your license for one reason or another? For many, they don’t feel that they have a choice other than continue to drive. They just hope they won’t have any interactions with police while they do it. Learning more about license suspension and what you may be able to do it about can help you to make the best decisions for your situation.

How Does One Get a License Suspension?

A license suspension can occur for a variety of reasons. For some, the first thing they think of is the person driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This event is indeed a situation that can result in a license suspension, but it’s not the only. You can have a license suspension for failing to appear in court. A license suspension can happen if you don’t have auto insurance for your car. Not paying any traffic fines or tickets can result in your license being taken away. Also, getting caught driving recklessly can result in your license suspension. This action can be excessive speeding or other reckless actions behind the wheel. Running from police after they try to pull you over is considered reckless. So is operating your vehicle on a bike path. For some parents, not paying child support can have a person’s driving privileges revoked.

How Long Are License Suspensions?

It usually depends on the reason behind your license suspension for how long it will be for. Typically, you can expect your license to be taken away from you for about three to 18 months. Once your suspension period is over, you’re able to apply for license reinstatement so that you can start legally driving again. You must go through the proper steps to get your license back rather than just assuming that since your suspension period is over, it’s legal for you to drive again. This action can result in penalties.

What Are Some Charges One Could Face If They Continue to Drive on a Suspended/Revoked License?

There are some steep penalties for getting caught driving after you’ve your driving rights taken away. The first offense will earn you an additional three months to your suspension, a 500 dollar fine, and at least 10 days in jail. Your second offense nets you an extra six months on the suspension, a 500 dollar fine, and the potential for six months to a year in jail. On your third offense, you’ll receive a felony charge, a year additional suspension, a thousand dollar fine, and at least a year in jail. If you lost your license for driving under the influence or another serious charge, there might be additional consequences depending on the charges brought against you for the other offenses.

What Consequences Could One Face If Convicted of These Charges?

Since it can be so tempting to continue driving even after a license suspension or revocation, there are severe penalties. One potential consequence that you can face involving your license suspension is that when you go to apply for license reinstatement, you will not get it back. Denials can happen by the court. There’s no guarantee that when your time’s up, you’ll the courts will view you as okay to drive again. This fact is especially true if you’ve gotten in trouble driving after your original situation of losing your license.

What Can an Attorney Do to Assist the Case?

An attorney can be very beneficial to have on your side if you are dealing with this type of case. Legal representation can help you to understand the law and your rights under the law. They can carefully weigh the evidence, and help you to find the best path to fighting these charges or getting your license back. Your attorney will pursue the best options for you.

In some situations, you may be able to get a restricted license. This license is where you’re able to drive for specific purposes, such as getting to work and back. These often require you to drive only during a particular time of day and really limits your driving habits, but can be helpful in keeping your job or getting your children to school. Often, you may need someone fighting for you to be able to get even this limited use of your vehicle.

If you or a loved one is dealing with the potential of a license suspension, it can be very beneficial for you to speak with an experienced attorney about your situation. The law office of S. Joshua Macktaz may be able to help you with your case. Contact us today to go over your options for your case.

Rhode Island License Suspension Attorney