Courts regularly suspend the BRITISH COLUMBIA FAKE DRIVING LICENSE of people convicted of driving under the influence. Under Florida law, those convicted of a DUI for the first time will have their licenses suspended for a period between 180 days and one year. If this occurs, there are several things that drivers subject to such restrictions can do.
Many drivers with suspended licenses choose to ignore the restrictions on their licenses, despite all admonitions to the contrary. This is a mistake. Under § 322.264 of the Florida statutes, “habitual traffic offenders” include people convicted of driving under the influence within the last 5 years; under § 322.34, anyone who drives on a suspended license who has been classified as a habitual offender is guilty of a Class 3 felony. The stigma of a felony charge will significantly jeopardize future academic, employment, and other options.
In addition to this initial suspension period, your driving privilege can be revoked for noncompliance with court-ordered programs pursuant to § 316.193 of the Florida Statutes. Missing a session at an alcohol treatment program can result in a temporary suspension until you attend the next meeting; missing another meeting can result in a suspension until the program is complete.
Certain drivers are eligible for reinstatement of their driver licenses after a certain period; this period varies depending on the offender’s record. A Gainesville DUI attorney can help you explore and petition for this option. First-time offenders may be eligible for hardship reinstatement soon after the suspension is ordered. Drivers must complete all court-ordered programs before being eligible for reinstatement.
Repeat offenders have fewer options. Under § 322.271, habitual offenders may petition the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to grant the convicted party a license that is restricted to “business purposes” only after a year. “Business purposes” includes travel to and from work, job-related driving activities, and transit to and from medical appointments. A third conviction requires drivers to wait 2 years before being eligible for reinstatement.
Some states exclude certain types of low-powered motorized vehicles from licensing requirements; in those states, people with suspended licenses can legally operate those vehicles on public roads. That is not the case in Florida. Mopeds and motorcycles are not lawful alternatives to passenger vehicles in in this state. Florida law limits people without driver licenses from operating vehicles on public roads except for man-powered bicycles, bicycles with engines that cannot exceed 20 miles per hour, and motorized wheelchairs.
