New City Driving Without A License Attorney
In order to be able to operate a motor vehicle on the roads and highways of New York, a driver must obtain a valid driver’s license. If you are stopped by law enforcement for a traffic violation, and they discover that you do not have with you a valid driver’s license, you could be ticketed for driving without a license. You can be charged with driving without a license in any of the following situations:
- You have a driver’s license, but you have misplaced it and it is not on you at the time of ticketing. This is a common occurrence. A driver might forget their driver’s license at home, could have misplaced their driver’s license, or has lost their license. The good news is that in this particular situation, your charges could easily be dismissed once you show that you do in fact possess a valid driver’s license.
- You have no driver’s license because your license has been revoked, suspended or canceled. Some drivers have had a run-in with the law in the past that resulted in their driver’s license being revoked, suspended or canceled. While your driver’s license is revoked, suspended or canceled, you are not permitted to operate a motor vehicle.
- You have no driver’s license because you never applied for one, or your driver’s license is expired. If you never applied for a driver’s license, or you let your driver’s license expire, you can be charged with driving without a license if you are caught operating a motor vehicle.
Whatever the reason is that you did not have a driver’s license when you were ticketed, you need to speak to a lawyer about your particular situation so that you can better understand what options and defenses are available to you.
If you are convicted, you will be subject to a fine and possibly jail time. If your conviction is based on your license being revoked, suspended or canceled, the fines are substantially higher, and you could be subjected to jail time, probation, vehicle impoundment and the length of time that your license will be revoked, suspended or canceled could be extended.
Whether you were driving without a license because you misplaced it, your license was suspended, revoked or canceled, or you never had a driver’s license or let it expire, if you are ticketed for driving without a license in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut, you need to consult with an experienced New City traffic offenses attorney as soon as you are able to do so. Reach out to the office of criminal defense attorney Phillip J. Murphy for a consultation on your case.