Gurnee Driving With a Suspended License Lawyer

Skilled Driving With a Suspended License Lawyer Serving Clients in Gurnee, IL

Getting caught driving on a suspended license can be a very big deal with serious repercussions. Driver's licenses are often suspended because the driver in question has been deemed a threat to public safety for one reason or another. These reasons could range from having a DUI conviction to receiving too many traffic violations.

Courts may take it very seriously if a driver who has been deemed dangerous is caught driving when they are not supposed to be. If your license has been suspended, and there is a compelling reason you need to drive for limited purposes, you may qualify for a driving relief program after installing an IID or taking other steps. However, driving without receiving a Restricted Driving Permit can be a serious crime that can result in jail time and other penalties.

Brady Cole Trial Lawyers has helped many people who have been charged with driving on a suspended license. We create customized criminal defense strategies based on the individual circumstances of each case. In most cases, driving on a suspended license is a misdemeanor offense in Illinois. However, if you are arrested for DUI while your license is already suspended, you will likely face felony charges, as this is considered an aggravated DUI. Our lawyers will consider all relevant details and circumstances of your case when preparing the best defense possible for you.

Why Your License Was Suspended Matters

In some cases, a person may legitimately not know that their driver's license has been suspended. For example, if you recently moved or are staying somewhere else temporarily, such as residing in a college dorm or staying with a family member while your divorce is in progress, you may be charged with traffic violations without realizing it. While driving in an unfamiliar area, you may be issued multiple violations by traffic cameras, and you may not be aware of these tickets because they were sent to your old address.

Although not knowing your license was suspended is not a defense, the court will very likely take your lack of knowledge into consideration. Your charge may be reduced to a less serious offense, and you may only face minor consequences, such as a reasonable fine.

If you did know that your license was suspended, the underlying reason for the suspension is important. If you received too many traffic tickets in the last year, or if your license was suspended because you forgot to resolve a ticket, you will likely be charged with a misdemeanor for a first offense. If you have already been convicted of driving with a suspended license at least once, you could instead be charged with a felony.

If you were under DUI suspension, however, you might be charged with a felony for a first offense. License suspensions related to DUI arrests or convictions are taken seriously, and they are strictly enforced because of the danger intoxicated drivers pose to everyone else on or near the roadways. If you were permitted to drive with an IID and drove without one, you would be charged with a separate but comparable offense. If you are charged with a second DUI while already under DUI suspension, you may face a very serious felony charge.

Penalties for Driving With a Suspended License in Lake County

The potential penalties for driving with a suspended license largely depend on whether you are facing misdemeanor or felony charges. For a misdemeanor, you could face up to a year in jail, and a mandatory minimum sentence of ten days in jail may apply. For a felony, you may risk more than a year of prison time depending on the seriousness of the offense. You are also likely to be subjected to a longer period of suspension, you may be refused driving relief, or you may even face a permanent license revocation for a repeat offense.

Contact a Gurnee Driving With a Suspended License Lawyer

Brady Cole Trial Lawyers will provide the strongest defense available under the circumstances. If you are facing charges for driving on a suspended license, we may be able to take steps to help restore your driving privileges or keep you from going to jail. Contact us at 847-752-9639 to get started with a free consultation.