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Howard County Driving on Suspended License Lawyer

In Maryland, driving with a suspended license is considered a misdemeanor that can carry surprisingly stiff penalties. In addition to possible fines and jail time, the consequences of being convicted of driving on a suspend license can make it that much harder for drivers to have their licenses reinstated. If you or a loved one have been charged with driving without a valid license, one of our Howard County driving while suspended lawyers can help. Call today to schedule a consultation and discuss your case with a traffic lawyer in Howard County.

Driving With Suspended License in Maryland

Under Maryland Code 16-303, driving while a license privilege is canceled, suspended, refused, or revoked can land a driver in hot water. In addition to in-state drivers with suspended licenses, this provision also applies to drivers whose out-of-state license privileges are suspended.

Regardless of why your license was originally suspended, your Howard County driving while suspended attorney can explain the legal process you are facing and work to mount a strong defense on your behalf.

Possible Defenses for Driving While Suspended

If the traffic stop was conducted improperly or if the police officer exceeded his authority during the interaction, the charges against you could be dismissed. In addition, if you had a valid license at the time of the stop but simply forgot your license at home, or if you later obtained a valid license, your Howard County driving while suspended attorney can argue that the charges against you should be reduced to lesser charges.

Howard County Driving While Suspended Penalties

Penalties for driving on a suspended license depend on the reason why a driver’s license was suspended in the first place. Your Howard County driving while suspended lawyer can explain which category of penalties you are facing.

Drivers whose privileges were suspended due to failure to appear in court as required by a citation or failure to pay a fine for a traffic violation are treated the same under the law. These drivers face up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500 for a first-time offense. Subsequent offenses carry increasingly severe penalties. Driving while suspended for these reasons can also garner three to five points against a driver’s license. This can make it even more difficult for drivers to have their license reinstated after a suspension.

Driving while suspended penalties are even harsher for drivers who lost their license privileges based on excessive points against their license, or for some specific traffic-related offenses. These drivers face a potential jail sentence of up to one year and a fine of up to $1000 for the first offense. A second offense doubles the penalty, raising the fine to up to $2000 and the potential jail term to two years. The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration also assigns an additional 12 points against a driver’s license if he or she is convicted of driving on a license suspended due to traffic offenses. Such a high level of points can trigger total revocation of a license that was previously only suspended for a specific time period. Your Howard County driving while suspended lawyer can still fight to prevent total revocation of your license, however.

Consult an Experienced Howard County Driving While Suspended Lawyer

Your Howard County driving while suspended attorney can work with you to investigate the facts surrounding the traffic stop that led to the charges against you. Call our Maryland law offices today to conduct your free initial consultation and learn more about how an attorney may be able to help.