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The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger
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Backed by 15 Years' Experience
as a Former Prosecutor Specialized in Criminal Defense

St. Petersburg Lawyer for Driving on a Suspended License

Contact Our Skilled St. Petersburg Lawyer 

Often after a DUI charge, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will suspend a person's driver license for a period of time. Typically, the suspension will last from 180 days to 1 year, unless your previous offense was within 5 years. In those cases, the suspension would be for 5 years (with no possibility of a hardship license after the 4th DUI). However, people find it difficult to get from place to place without a car, particularly if they live far from their job. If they can't get a hardship license, they might risk driving carefully to and from their destination, hoping they don't get pulled over. But, what happens when they do?

Schedule your free consultation with The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger today - contact us!

Understanding the Penalties for Driving with a Suspended License

If someone is caught driving with a suspended license for the 1st time, he or she could face 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500. A 2nd offense is a 1st-degree misdemeanor, which means they could get 1 year in jail. A 3rd offense could result in felony charges, which might mean 5 years in prison and a fine of up to a $5,000 fine.

Consequences of Being a Habitual Traffic Offender

Driving without a license has the most severe consequences if someone repeatedly commits the crime. For those who commit a 3rd offense, and the previous 2 offenses occurred within 5 years, they could be labeled Habitual Traffic Offenders. This status can result in a 5-year license revocation with no possibility of getting a hardship license until a full year has passed since their most recent conviction.

Effective Defenses Against Suspended License Charges

There are many ways an attorney could defend your case. Our excellent St. Petersburg DUI lawyer could use some of the following arguments:

  • The traffic stop wasn't valid
  • The defendant was not driving
  • The Department of Motor Vehicles did not send the defendant notice of the suspension
  • The defendant was not driving on a roadway open to the public
  • The vehicle is not a "motor vehicle" for purposes of the driver license statute
  • The defendant's license has been reinstated

If there are no valid defenses available, a lawyer may seek to change the charge to No Valid Florida Driver's License or, in some cases, to a civil citation. Amending the charge could lessen the penalties immensely.

Reach Out to Us Anytime for Legal Support

Timothy Hessinger is a former 15 year prosecutor, so he knows how to navigate both sides of the courtroom. Trust him with your case.

Our firm has 29 years of criminal law experience total. Contact us at (888) 863-7415 or by filling out our online form for a free case evaluation. 

Our Settlements & Verdicts

Our top priority is to devise customized legal strategies that are tailored to the unique legal needs of our clients, no matter how simple or complicated their situations, might be.

  • All charges dropped. 2 Counts Battery
  • Reduced to 3 Counts. Wh/Adj 3 years probation. 5 Counts Possession of Child Pornography
  • Reduced to 2 counts. Wh/Adj and probation. 9 Counts - Possession of Child Pornography.
  • Not Guilty after Jury Trial Aggravated Assault with a Firearm
  • All charges Dropped. Aggravated Assault With Motor Vehicle
  • Reduced to Felony Battery, dismissed, sealed. Aggravated Battery

    Why Choose The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger?

    • 15 years experience in the State Attorney's office
    • Confidential, complimentary initial consultations
    • Accepting calls and cases 24 hours a day
    • Exclusively devoted to criminal defense
    • Tried Over 140 Jury Trials
    • Impressive track record of charge reductions, acquittals, and dismissals

    Contact Us Today

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    Hear From Our Happy Clients

    At The Law Office of Timothy Hessinger, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.

      "He helped our entire family feel secure"
      Mr Hessinger acted in a professional and competent manor. I felt very secure with him handling my case.
      - Former Client
      "He was professional, patient, knowledgeable, kind, helpful, and compassionate."
      His level of expertise in his field was was above anything I could have imagined.
      - Diane C.
      "Tim is well respected within the legal community."
      It is evident that Tim is well respected within the legal community by the prosecution and the judiciary.
      - Legal Professional
      "We are so grateful beyond words as to hiring such a dedicated attorney who always had our back."
      Tim was always available either by text, call, and email; he always promptly answered our questions as to anything pertaining to our case.
      - Vivianna
      "I was in the most capable hands!"
      From my initial interview to the successful conclusion of my case, Mr. Hessinger was extremely thorough, thoughtful and most of all gave me a sense of security knowing that I was in the most capable of hands.
      - Dave