VC 14601.1 – Driving On Suspended License | LA Traffic Violation Attorneys
Arrested or cited for Driving On A Suspended License in Los Angeles? The majority of traffic crimes in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California are considered infraction level offenses. Therefore, most people assume traffic tickets cannot be prosecuted as criminal offenses and do not take these charges as serious as they should. However, while the majority of traffic citations in Los Angeles are infractions, several misdemeanor traffic crimes can actually result in jail time and a criminal record. Traffic infractions, such as a speeding or failing to stop at a red light can be easily resolved by just simply “paying the ticket” and taking traffic school without ever appearing in court. Conversely, traffic misdemeanors carry penalties which can result in jail time, probation, and a criminal record if you are convicted. If you have been cited with a misdemeanor for Driving On A Suspended License in LA, you will face these penalties and your appearance in court would be mandatory unless you retained a traffic attorney to appear on your behalf to represent you. Defined under California Vehicle Code 14601.1:
It is a misdemeanor crime for you to drive a motor vehicle when you have knowledge that your privilege to drive has been suspended or revoked.
The consequences of Driving On A Suspended License are much more serious than most assume. Therefore, if you have been charged or cited with a VC 14601.1, you should immediately consult with a qualified criminal defense lawyer with experience defending Driving On A Suspended License cases throughout each of the criminal courts in Los Angeles. If you have been arrested or cited for Driving On A Suspended License in Los Angeles, call us now at (888) 579-4844 for a free consultation. LA traffic violation lawyers Paul Takakjian and Stephen Sitkoff are former senior prosecutors, and each has over 35 years of experience successfully defending misdemeanor VC 14601.1 charges and helping clients avoid jail time, DMV points, and jail time. Contact us now to learn how we can help you.
Consequences & Penalties For Driving On A Suspended License In Los Angeles
The degree of punitive sanctions you face for Driving On A Suspended License hinge on the circumstances under which your California license was suspended. For example, if your license was suspended as a result of a DUI conviction, you would be charged with a more serious version of Driving On A Suspended License under California Vehicle Code 14601.2, which carries enhanced penalties such as mandatory jail time and installation of an ignition interlock device (IID). In addition, Driving On A Suspended License is a priorable traffic crime. Therefore, prior convictions can be stacked to further enhance penalties for subsequent offenses. Although not as serious as VC 14601.2, Driving On A Suspended License under VC 14601.1 still, carries many similar consequences and penalties. The following are some of the consequences and penalties you face if charged with a first offense VC 14601.1:
- Up to 6 months in LA County Jail
- Up to $1,000 fine
- Summary or informal probation
- Misdemeanor criminal record
- 2 DMV points on driving record
- Community labor or service
If you are charged with Driving On A Suspended License with a prior conviction within the last 5 years, you face the following:
- 5 days of mandatory imprisonment in LA County Jail
- Up to 1 year in LA County Jail
- Mandatory minimum fine of $500
- Up to $2,000 fine
- Summary or informal probation
- Misdemeanor criminal record
- 2 DMV points on driving record
- Community labor or service
Defenses To Driving On A Suspended License In LA
Since an element of VC 14601.1 is that you possessed “knowledge” of the license suspension, a reasonable argument could be raised you were not given notice of the suspension and, therefore, had no “knowledge” of the suspension. This often occurs when following an address change; the California DMV sends written notice of suspension by mail to an address where you no longer reside. Alternatively, Los Angeles DUI and traffic attorneys have defended VC 14601.1 cases by working with our clients to help them reinstate their suspended driving privileges and then presenting proof of reinstatement in court as a factor in mitigation in order to negotiate plea agreements to either reduce misdemeanors to infractions, or dismiss Driving On Suspended License charges completely. The defense strategy employed will be determined by the unique facts of your case, as there is no such thing as a “one size fits all” defense approach.
Call Our LA Driving On A Suspended License Defense Attorneys Today To Learn How We Can Help
We are far too often retained by people seeking expungements of misdemeanor Driving On A Suspended License convictions when after closer review, the misdemeanor convictions and criminal records these people have endured for the past several years could have been avoided had they either received higher quality legal representation or elected to not just simply plead guilty. Since 1987, Mr. Takakjian and Mr. Sitkoff have successfully defended all misdemeanor and felony traffic crimes in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California. If you have been cited or charged with Driving On A Suspended License, call us now at (888) 579-4844 to schedule an appointment for a free consultation at our main office in West Los Angeles. For our clients’ convenience, we also maintain satellite office locations in Torrance, Long Beach, Pasadena, West Covina, Westlake Village, Oxnard, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Orange, Woodland Hills, and Rancho Cucamonga.