Howard County Driving Without a Registration Lawyer

A Howard County driving without registration lawyer can help clients who are facing surprisingly harsh penalties for something as simple as allowing a registration to lapse. Law enforcement officers take this offenses seriously, which is why it is often a good idea to work with an experienced traffic lawyer in Howard County who understands how to fight these charges.

Why Work With a Driving Without Registration Attorney?

Driving an unregistered vehicle in Maryland is a criminal misdemeanor, and even though it is not the most serious driving-related offense, this charge carries the potential to impact not just a driver’s criminal record, but his or her driving privileges and insurance coverage too. If you have been charged with driving an unregistered vehicle or allowing someone else to drive your unregistered vehicle, you will need to consult with an experienced Howard County driving without registration lawyer right away.

Driving Without Registration in Maryland

Under Maryland Transportation Code 13-401, it is illegal to drive an unregistered vehicle or allow another person to drive an unregistered vehicle that belongs to you. This applies to both vehicles that were never registered and vehicles with expired registrations or license plates.

Common Driving without Registration Scenarios

Even so, unregistered vehicles are quite common. Many people allow their registration to lapse by accident and are not even aware their registration is not current. You may mistakenly believe you have more time to register your new vehicle, or that there is a so-called grace period. Drivers with outstanding warrants may choose to forgo registering their vehicle for fear of arrest. Sometimes, registrations are cancelled, suspended or revoked due to lapsed or inadequate insurance coverage. Other times, drivers intentionally delay obtaining current registrations because they may lack the financial means to make necessary vehicle repairs in order to pass required inspections.

Driving without Proof of Registration

It is also possible for a driver to receive a citation for driving without registration when in fact their vehicle is registered, but the driver lacks the necessary proof of registration. Unfortunately, registration decal theft is common, and if a driver does not have other proof of registration in the vehicle at the time of a police stop, he or she could be charged with driving without registration. If this is the case, a Howard County driving without registration attorney can help you set things straight and clear you name.

Whatever the reason your vehicle lacked current registration, if you are charged with driving without registration, it is a good idea to consult with an experienced Howard County driving without registration lawyer.

Driving Without Registration Penalties in MD

Driving or attempting to drive without registration in Maryland or allowing someone else to drive your unregistered motor vehicle is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500. Your Howard County driving without registration lawyer can advise you as to whether bringing your registration current may help persuade the court to reduce your penalties.

Consult a Howard County Driving Without Registration Lawyer

Our firm’s driving without registration attorneys in Howard County understand that there are many reasons why a driver might have an unregistered vehicle, and we can investigate the circumstances in your case and determine how to minimize the harm of your charge as much as possible.  If another person drove your unregistered vehicle without permission, for instance, your Howard County driving without registration lawyer can argue that because you were unaware, the charges against you should be dropped.

Call and schedule a consultation with an attorney today.