Colonial Heights Driving Without A License Lawyer
If you have been charged with any type of driver’s license violation, a Colonial Heights driving without a license lawyer can advise you as to the steps you need to take to have your license reinstated, and whether you may be eligible for restricted driving privileges. If you did, in fact, have a valid license at the time you were charged or you were unaware that your license had been suspended, a skilled traffic attorney can pursue dismissal of the charges against you.
Why Work With an Attorney?
Being charged with driving without a license can be frustrating. You may have been pulled over without proper license and registration documents at a time when you really needed to get where you were going, despite your license status. Driving without a license, however, is a crime that carries serious penalties, even if you were headed to work, school, or an important appointment at the time.
If you have been pulled over while operating a motor vehicle without a license, a Colonial Heights driving without a license attorney can help. You will need an advocate to guide you through the legal process and help you navigate the court system. Your lawyer may be able to obtain restricted driving privileges on your behalf or even have the charges against you reduced or dropped.
An experienced local lawyer understands what it takes to mount an effective defense in an unlicensed driving case, and we can utilize the full resources of a private criminal defense law firm to help build an effective defense in your favor.
Driving Without a License in Virginia
Under Virginia Code § 46.2-300, it is illegal to operate a vehicle without a license. This law, however, does not address driving while your license has been suspended or revoked, which is a separate offense. The offense of driving without a license typically applies to individuals who lack a valid license. If you have never applied for a driver’s license, or if you have failed the required driving test, and were pulled over, you would likely face a driving without a license charge.
Driving without a license is a Class 2 misdemeanor, carrying a penalty of up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. Therefore, it’s essential to contact a Colonial Heights driving without a license attorney.
Driving With a Suspended or Revoked License
Driving with a suspended or revoked license is a separate charge from driving without a license. Under Virginia Code § 46.2-301, driving with a suspended or revoked license is a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by a jail sentence of up to 12 months and a fine of up to $2,500. In addition, your vehicle could be impounded, and your license suspension or revocation could be extended another 90 days.
If you receive a third charge of driving on a suspended or revoked license in a ten-year period, the court will impose a minimum ten-day jail sentence, though there is an exception for cases in which you were driving due to a medical emergency.
Driving After Forfeiture of License
Driving after your license has been suspended or revoked due to an alcohol or drug-related driving offense, sometimes referred to as driving after forfeiture, is subject to heightened penalties under Virginia Code § 18.2-272. Driving after forfeiture is a Class 1 misdemeanor, but three violations within a ten-year period are a Class 6 felony.
If you have had your license suspended, restricted, or revoked, you are subject to stricter blood alcohol content regulations. While a BAC of .08 or more typically constitutes driving under the influence, a person whose license has been revoked, restricted, or suspended must have a BAC under .02. Because the consequences can escalate quickly, working with a driving without a license attorney in Colonial Heights can be essential to protecting your rights and minimizing penalties.
Contact a Colonial Heights Driving Without a License Attorney
If you have been caught driving without a license in Virginia, it’s important that you contact a Colonial Heights driving without a license lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney will be able to look at the circumstances of your charge and develop the strongest possible defense for your situation.
To find out more about your charge or what a driving without a license lawyer in Colonial Heights can do for you, call today.
