If you or someone you know has had their driver’s license revoked, continuing to uphold your normal obligations including employment, childcare and school attendance can become difficult. You may be tempted to just drive anyway, even if your license has been revoked; however, doing so could carry heavy penalties and lead to a permanent inability to secure a driver’s license in the future. Understanding how a revoked license works is the first step in overcoming this challenge and receiving a new license in the future.
What Is A Revoked License?
A revoked license is a driver’s license that has been permanently pulled out of service. It is different from a suspended driver’s license in that with a suspension, the license is temporarily not valid for use, but it can be reinstated once the suspension is over. A revoked driver’s license is permanently deactivated; however, the driver may be eligible to apply for a new driver’s license at a later time. A revoked driver’s license typically carries a period of 1 to 5 years before a new license can be pursued, but the timeline will vary depending upon the reason for the revocation; some drivers may never be eligible again.
Offenses That Could Cause A Revoked Driver’s License In Virginia
A revoked driver’s license is most commonly the result of multiple serious traffic violations, especially within a short period of time. While it is possible to receive a license revocation upon your first offense if it is particularly serious, most revoked driver’s licenses arise when an individual has quickly accumulated a high number of points on their driving record or have already had multiple offenses that resulted in a suspended license.
Reckless driving, DUIs, drag racing or failing to answer a summons to traffic court, among many other activities, can result in a revoked license if they are especially serious or if you have previous convictions of the same offenses. However, your driver’s license can still be revoked even if you were not guilty of a moving violation or other traffic crime; alcohol or drug charges for a minor, as well as using fake license plates or some non-DUI drug charges, can result in a court revoking your driver’s license.
Penalties For Driving With A Revoked License
If you choose to drive even after having your driver’s license revoked, you can expect a number of penalties. Driving while your license is revoked is a Class 1 misdemeanor that could result in up to a year of jail time, a fine of up to $2,500 or both. Jail time is mandatory if you have had your license suspended or revoked 3 times within 10 years.
While these penalties are tangible and somewhat severe, one of the intangible but highly critical penalties of driving with a revoked license is the possibility that you will permanently remove any chance of being legally allowed to acquire a driver’s license again. A license revocation is not typically forever, but driving with a revoked license could cause the court to rule that you are no longer fit to operate a motor vehicle in the future. Most insurance companies will also cancel policies for drivers who are found to be driving with a revoked license, which can make it extremely challenging or even impossible to secure auto insurance later, should you acquire a new license after the revocation.
How To Reinstate A Revoked License
If your driver’s license has been revoked, this does not necessarily mean that you can never drive again. While some individuals will rarely see their first revocation result in a permanent ban on driving thereafter, most are subject to a certain time frame during which they are not eligible to drive. A revoked license is permanently invalidated, and may never be used again. However, once the revocation period expires, the individual may attend traffic school and begin the process of acquiring a new driver’s license as they did the very first time they became licensed.
Work With Experienced Fairfax Traffic Law Attorneys
If you have been charged with driving with a revoked or suspended license in Virginia, it is wise to reach out to a legal professional who can advocate for you in court. A skilled traffic attorney will advocate on your behalf to convince the court not to make your driver’s license revocation permanent so that you retain your ability to get a new driver’s license . The Law Offices of Kermit A. Monge would be happy to review your case and plan a strategy for the most successful outcome for your situation. Reach out to schedule a consultation with a traffic defense attorney.