Driving on Suspended License in GA: Penalties

Driving with a suspended license in GA is extremely serious. In Georgia, driving on a suspended license can mean fines, jail time, probation, a new arrest and possibly more. You may have had your license suspended due to the Georgia implied consent laws or for another reason.

These implied consent laws aim to suspend your Georgia driver’s license administratively. Your license is suspended because you either refused a DUI test or took the test and failed. If you have an out-of-state license, it affects your ability to drive in Georgia as well.

Finding lawyers near me with qualified law professionals whose legal services are in high demand is your goal.

Is My Georgia Driver’s License Suspended?

Most people with a revoked or suspended license know their status. However, some drivers in Georgia may not realize they do not have a valid driver’s license after driving on a suspended license in GA.

There are many reasons why a person might have a suspended license under Georgia driving laws. If the Georgia DMV (Georgia DDS) did not send a notice by mail, the person may not know about the suspension. This lack of notice can occur if the person never received it.

Some quick examples of how this can happen including forgetting about traffic tickets and missing the traffic court date. These mistakes can cause an “FTA” (failure to appear). They may also lead to a points suspension.

If you move to a new address, you might not receive notice of a “super speeder GA” default. This happens if you do not pay the extra $200 tax on time. The State of Georgia sends this notice by U.S. mail after your speeding case is closed.

Also, some non-driving issues can lead to license suspension. These include not paying child support or dropping out of high school. Contacting attorneys near me for help is the wise decision.

How Do I Check My GA License Status?

A person can check his or her Georgia driver’s license status, so long as you know your Georgia driver’s license number.

To check your Georgia driver’s license status, call the automated DDS number at 404-657-9300. Follow the prompts to find out what the system says about your driving privileges. You can also visit your nearest GA DDS office location.

Our DUI attorneys in Atlanta can help you with any issues about your license. Our Georgia DUI lawyers will represent you.

You can check the status of Georgia driver’s license records online. Just visit the Georgia Department of Driver Services website. By doing an online GA driver’s license check at the GA DMV website, you can know what your current licensing status is.

Read more below about our handling of your DUI in Georgia first offense.

CAUTION: It may take several weeks for a change in any GA DDS license status due to an administrative suspension. Be patient when you start to check your license status in GA.

Is Driving Without a License a Misdemeanor?

Yes, every traffic offense that is a moving violation is a misdemeanor in Georgia.

In Georgia, all misdemeanors have a standard penalty. Unless a law says otherwise, they can lead to a fine of up to $1,000. They may also result in up to 12 months in jail. An example of a special case is seat belt violations

Being Arrested for Driving On a Suspended License in Georgia

If you are caught driving with a suspended license in Georgia, the police will have to arrest you. This is because driving with a suspended license is a serious crime.

It is similar to DUI and hit and run. The officer must take you into custody to protect the public from a driver who is not licensed. Law enforcement officers assume that no license also means no car insurance.

A conviction for driving with a suspended or revoked license can lead to jail time. A criminal court judge may impose this penalty. Other penalties can include probation and fines.

If you are in a car accident, you may also need to pay restitution to others. Some Georgia statutes make a jail sentence mandatory upon the judge, especially for a repeat offense of driving while under suspension.

Penalties for Driving With A Suspended License in GA

There are two ‘types’ of penalties for driving on a suspended license in GA. These are criminal penalties and driver’s license actions from the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS).

Criminal punishments may include:

• A first-time license suspension is classified as a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine ranging from $500 to $1,000. Also, jail time is possible (2 days-1 year)
• A second license suspension is classified as an aggravated or ‘high’ misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of $1,000 to $2,500. This suspension also carries jail time of 10 days-12 months.
• The third license suspension is treated similarly to the second
• A fourth license suspension is classified as a felony, meaning at least one year in prison but this sentence can range up to five years. Also, you may be subject to a fine ranging from $2,500 to $5,000.

Driver’s license actions from the GA DDS:

• Extended suspension time.
• License reinstatement fees. ($210 for a first offense license suspension, $310 for a second, $410 for a third, fourth, or subsequent)

The driver must follow Georgia’s financial responsibility laws. This means they need to pay for uninsured damage to property or personal injury claims. They must do this before getting their driving privileges back in Georgia.

You have three ways to pay your reinstatement fee for driving with a suspended license in GA: pay online through your MyDDS account, in person, or by mail. (You receive a $10 discount if paying by mail.)

How to Correct a Georgia Driver’s License Suspension

Several steps are needed to rectify a driving with a suspended license problem.

Hiring a traffic lawyer is the fastest way to solve your legal issue. A lawyer can act as a helpful “buffer” between you and the criminal justice system. To utilize “self-help,” without hiring a traffic attorney near me you will need to do these things:

1. Get your driving record from GA DDS or another state DMV or DPS. You can do this online or by visiting a driver’s license customer service center.
2. Contact the court for which your suspension was triggered or issued, by phone, if possible;
3. Keep copies of all paperwork. If you can, save each form as a PDF on your computer. This way, you can easily email them to different State, County, or municipal court agencies.
4. – Ensure you have enough money to pay any fines or balances owed, such as child support.
5. – Do this before you start fixing the reason for your driver’s license suspension.

Depending on the issue, the final step is to show proof of resolution. This proof relies on the suspension or revocation of the license.

Do I Need a Suspended License Lawyer?

Three categories of clients hire our suspended license attorneys to assist with their traffic tickets, and these are:

1. People who are out of state, and cannot travel back to Georgia to personally handle the criminal case;
2. Many people are too busy to take time off from work. They find it hard to deal with traffic tickets.
3. People who fear arrest or drive for a living may avoid the risk of going to court.

You need to send this proof to Georgia DDS or another state driver’s licensing agency. This could be the WV DMV, SC DPS, NC DMV, or AL DPS. You also need to pay the required reinstatement fee to that state.

More Legal Information About Our Three Criminal Law Attorney Partners:

William Head has strong lawyer ratings and special skills in DUI law. He is Board Certified in DUI Defense by the American Bar Association. He also has a 5.0 rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Additionally, he holds the “AV Preeminent” rating, which is the highest for ethics and skill.

The three partners have received over 37 awards for excellence in criminal defense.

Best Lawyers in America– See our two recipients above.

Link to our Super Lawyers pages: William C. Head, Cory Yager, and Larry Kohn

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