DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE
(DWLS)

Under Florida Statute section 322.34, knowingly driving with a suspended license, is a criminal act and not just a civil traffic penalty. A DWLS is an enhanceable offense meaning the more times you are charged and convicted the more severe the penalties.

REASONS FOR A LICENSE SUSPENSION

  • Too many points

  • Child support delinquency

  • DUI conviction

  • Failure to appear in court

  • Failure to pay fines

  • Refusal to submit to DUI testing

  • Drug-related convictions

PENALTIES

As mentioned previously, because DWLS is an enhanceable offense depending on the number of convictions, a charge of DWLS can range from a second-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony.

Additionally, three convictions within 5 years will result in being labeled a Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO) by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV). As a HTO, your license will be suspended for 5 years and you will not be eligible for a hardship until after 1 year.

mobility and the ability to drive, while considered a privilege, in todays world and in southwest florida has become a necessity to get to school, work, and more. Too often, these charges are not taken seriously, and unrepresented drivers plead their case without being fully aware of the long-term consequences.

 

arrested for driving with a suspended license? Contact us today.

2200 Broadway
Fort Myers, Florida
33901

 
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P.O. Box 8
Fort Myers, Florida
33902