What Happens if I Am Caught Driving with a Suspended License?

 Posted on December 04, 2019 in License Suspension

There are many reasons a person may have their license suspended, or even revoked, in Illinois. A DUI conviction will certainly strip someone of their license, even for a first offense. Sometimes a lesser offense, such as failing to pay traffic tickets, is enough to have a license suspended. Whatever the reason for it, many people mistakenly believe that driving on a license that has been suspended or revoked does not come with serious consequences. They believe that if they are caught, it will be like any other minor traffic offense, and the most they will face is a fine. That is wrong.

Driving on a suspended or revoked license is a serious offense. Depending on the circumstances, you could even face jail time for it.

Penalties for Driving with a Suspended License

There are many penalties associated with driving on a suspended license. The offense is outlined in the Illinois Vehicle Code, Section 6-303. Under this statute, the offense is considered a Class A misdemeanor and could result in a maximum of 364 days in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500. Individuals convicted also have to pay mandatory court costs.

In some situations, the offense could even be considered a felony, such as when the license was suspended after a DUI conviction. In these cases, driving on a suspended license has penalties of up to ten days in jail, or 240 hours of community service, which is approximately 30 days.

If you are charged with a second violation of driving with a license that was suspended or revoked after a DUI conviction, the offense is upgraded to a Class 4 felony. The mandatory minimum penalty for this conviction is at least 30 days in jail or 300 hours of community service. However, the court has the ability to sentence you to one to three years in jail and a maximum fine of $25,000.

Driver’s License Suspensions

After being found guilty of the offense of driving with a suspended license, you will also face additional suspensions. The Secretary of State will extend your suspension for the same amount of time the original suspension dictated. If you are convicted of driving with a license that has been revoked, you will have to wait at least one year from the date of your conviction before your license is reinstated. Although there are no guarantees that you will get your license back after this time, one year is the minimum amount of time you will have to wait.

Convicted of Driving on a Suspended License? Call Our Illinois Criminal Defense Attorney

Being charged with driving with a suspended license is a serious offense. However, facing charges is not the same thing as being convicted. While the situation may seem hopeless, there are many defenses to driving on a suspended or revoked license. At the Law Offices of Christopher M. Cosley, our skilled Rolling Meadows criminal defense lawyer knows what they are. If you are facing charges, call us today at 847-253-3100 to set up a free consultation so we can start discussing your case.

Source:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K11-501