In New Jersey a conviction of driving on a suspended license can carry a sentence of up to five years in jail and up to $2250 in fines and surcharges.
You may wonder if there is any point in getting a lawyer to fight a traffic charge. When the offense is as serious as driving on a suspended license, your liberty and your economic welfare are at stake. If you would like to discuss your situation, contact our New Jersey law office to arrange a consultation. Our lawyers represent individuals who have received a summons or been arrested for driving while suspended statewide including Passaic County, Jersey City, Clifton, Union County, Essex County and Hudson County.
Driving on a suspended license: defenses
Was your license suspended because of a financial obligation? Your driver's license may be suspended even though you have never committed a moving violation. Under New Jersey law, driving privileges are tied to a wide variety of financial obligations.
Examples include child support, failure to pay parking tickets, failure to pay DMV surcharges, failure to carry motor vehicle insurance, and failure to pay a license restoration fee. If that is the reason for your suspension, our attorney will help you clear up that obligation, and then petition the court to amend the charge to driving without a license.
Did you even know your license was suspended? You may not even realize that the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) mailed a Scheduled Suspension Notice to your former address. It is not unusual for a driver to be pulled over for a minor traffic violation only to be charged with a second violation—driving while suspended. The prosecutor must show that it took reasonable steps to inform you of your suspension.
Was your license suspended by the judge because of multiple violations? Most New Jersey license suspensions result from multiple traffic violations that result in a certain number of DMV points. Our attorneys will examine the previous convictions for evidence that there were errors in those cases. There may be grounds to argue that the license suspension was not valid.
Only after discussing your case with an attorney with the appropriate experience can you make a well-informed decision about whether to fight a charge of driving on a suspended or revoked license or plead guilty and pay the fine. If you would like to speak with a member of our firm, call 201-781-7800.
Our lawyers represent clients who have received a summons or been arrested on a wide variety of traffic violations, defending them throughout New Jersey Union County, Essex County, Jersey City, Clifton, Passaic County and Hudson County, against charges including the following:
- Driving without insurance
- Driving without a license
- Possession of drugs in a motor vehicle
- Reckless driving, speeding, careless driving
- Failure to report an accident, leaving the scene
- Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign
Please contact the Ibrahim Law Group to arrange for a consultation at 201-781-7800.