Suspension of a driving license is one thing, but violating the law again and again by driving on a suspended license can ruin your life. No matter where you are residing, the federal and provincial laws have depicted severe penalties for disrespecting the law every time.
The court will consider this act a Serious Offense because you are still incapable of driving during the suspended period. So, fulfilling all the conditions before sitting behind the wheels again can permanently revoke the license.
What is Driving on a Suspended or Revoked License?
Under the Motor Vehicle Act of Canada, the Judge or the Magistrate can revoke or suspend your drivers’ license. You must fulfill a bunch of conditions to reinstate a drivers’ license again.
You can apply for a restricted license after suspension of your license for the first time. The restricted license allows you a limited privilege to drive again only to limited places. Or, you can install an ignition interlock device if your license is suspended for drunk driving.
But the problem arises when your drivers’ license is suspended, and you start driving even without a restricted license or ignition interlock device. Again, violation of the rules is referred to as a criminal offence and can lead to jail time and fines.
Driving on a suspended license is considered as repeating the same crime twice. The conditions to serve during the suspension period are different from state to state.
But most of the states usually gives these conditions:
- Pay the fines
- Apply for a valid license again after the suspension period is over
- Serving in community services
What are the Criminal Penalties for Revoked License?
How your state may penalize you for driving on a faulty license depends on the law of the state or province you are residing in, and the violation of the law has happened.
The authorities follow two sections to penalize driving on a suspended license in Canada. One is Provincial Highway Traffic Act, and the other one is Federal Criminal Code.
Provincial Highway Traffic Act is followed for misdemeanour faults. In contrast, you will be convicted under the Federal Criminal Code when you commit a severe crime, such as hitting and running or damaging other people’s property.
Penalties Under Criminal Code:
Operation While Prohibited will be written to refer to your offence, and you may have to face these penalties when you drive with a suspended license. These are the minimum penalty for driving on a suspended license.
Imprisonment: Jail time for driving on a suspended license is a day to two years for minor crimes and even up to 10 years if the crown prosecutor decides to proceed by indictment.
For a Misdemeanor:
If your case is minor, you may have to face these charges:
Imprisonment: A year jail
Fines: $6250
Violation/Provincial Offence:
Violating the court’s order and disrespecting the restriction for the first time may charge you the following penalties:
Imprisonment: Up to six months’ prison
Fines: $1000 to $5000
When you dare to go against the law for a second or more time after that, you will have to face the charges for an extended period, and often the fines will also exceed the previous limits.
Imprisonment: Six-month prison
Fines: $2000- $5000 or both and a further six-month suspension of your drivers’ license.
Criminal Offense:
You should hire a driving lawyer when you are convicted of a criminal offence after vandalizing property or hitting anyone with your car causing severe health injury because the fines and imprisonment may get higher than you can imagine.
Fines: $5000 to $25,000 for the first time and $10000 to $50,000 for any subsequent crimes.
Exception of Penalty for Alcohol Intoxication:
Alcohol Ignition Interlock device program allows drivers to drive after 12 to 24 hours for alcohol-related traffic violations. During the device is installed, the device will take breathing test samples and analyze them. You can drive as long as you pass the tests.
Additional Driver’s License Consequences
According to Motor Vehicle Act, the court or state agencies usually have the right to penalty the offender driving on a suspended license in Ontario. And the driver may have to face these additional charges upon failing any of the aforementioned conditions.
- 120 days of vehicle registration cancellation for the vehicle he was driving on a suspended license
- All other vehicles registration will also be suspended for the driver for three months
- Pay the cost for towing and storing
And finally, your vehicle will be auctioned if you do not claim it within a certain period.
The Most Frequent Causes for License Suspensions
Experts in this field recommend that you have a clear concept of what can revoke or suspense your license. Here’s is a list for the ignorant ones.
- Driving under alcohol intoxication or drug influence
- Hit-n-run and not reporting within 72 hours
- Not paying a traffic ticket
- Violation of traffic laws with racing
- Four traffic infractions within the last two years
- Points on a traffic rules violation
- Absence in a court hearing
- Failing to prove the financial responsibility or insurance
Except these, after separation by divorce, if you cannot pay your portion of child support, there are chances of losing your driver’s license. Alcohol possession of a minor individual can lead to suspension of this license.
In certain medical conditions, for example, epilepsy, visual or auditory impairment can be a significant cause for license suspensions.
Moreover, you can get a court order suspension. The court orders the traffic to revoke a license due to long-term physical inability to drive or a mandatory break.
How to Beat a Driving On Suspended License?
There are ways to beat a driving license and get a hardship license under certain circumstances. And for this lawyer’s responsibilities can’t be denied.
For example,
- Taking your kids to school
- Obtain treatment for drugs or alcohol consumptions
- Maintain employment
Conclusion:
Instead of driving on a suspended license CA and making your life hard, pay the fines and wait patiently till the suspension period is over. After that, apply for reinstatement and a new license.
Driving with a suspended license can lead to death both for you and the other people on the road. Remember that the court has suspended your license and told you to start from scratch again because you are not ready to drive again. Contact a criminal offence lawyer if you have committed any offences to help you decrease your penalty a little bit.
FAQs:
Does a Suspended License Show up on Driving Record?
Yes, you can get increased sentences and fines when you get caught doing that for a second or third time.
Can You Go to Jail Driving on a Suspended License?
Yes, you can. Following the Motor Vehicle Act, this act will be considered a Criminal offence. The minimum penalty is 10 days in jail or 30 days of community service.
