Drivers License Suspension Defense in Daytona
We’re a nation of drivers. In 2017 there were nearly eight million registered cars and 600,000 registered motorcycles in Florida.
But it’s important to remember that Florida considers a license to drive a motor vehicle a privilege, not a right. As with any privilege, this one can be taken away for various reasons. In addition to a Driving While Impaired (DUI) conviction or guilty plea, there are a number of reasons why your license can be suspended or revoked. While many drivers license suspensions are related to moving violations, some have nothing to do with the operation of a car. These including a failure to:
- Pay a traffic fine
- Answer a traffic court summons
- Complete mandatory advanced driver improvement (ADI) school
- Pay child support
In addition, a suspension may follow conviction on many drug possession or sale charges or a finding that a driver is a habitual traffic offender. A non-DUI infraction that results in death or serious injury to another person may also result in a suspension.
Because many suspensions do follow a conviction or a guilty plea to a criminal offense, however, it’s important to understand the consequences of a guilty plea or a potential conviction. For this purpose, a guilty plea is treated as a conviction.
A driver whose license has been suspended may apply for a hardship license that allows him to drive to and from work or on business only. A hardship license applicant must complete the ADI program and pay a reinstatement fee.