DRIVING WITH A SUSPENDED LICENSE… KNOW THE FACTS.
If you are pulled over and have a suspended license, you will be charged with a crime in New York State.
Under NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law, it is a crime to operate a vehicle on a suspended license. The Statute is Section 511 or “Aggravated Unlicensed Operation” or “AUO”. This is not just a traffic ticket, but a serious charge that could involve jail time and leave you with a criminal record.
Traffic Ticket Lawyer
Most of our clients who receive this ticket do not understand why there license was suspended, or say that they never received notice (a valid defense to AUO.)
A majority of license suspension come from unpaid or unanswered traffic tickets. Other common license suspensions can relate to unpaid child support, failure to register a motor vehicle, or insurance lapses.
If your license has already been suspended or revoked and you are accused of driving without a valid license, it becomes even more important to take swift action and talk with an experienced attorney. You want to fight the criminal charges that you face to try to reduce the penalties or avoid conviction altogether. A New York traffic lawyer can provide you with assistance in responding strategically to charges so you can try to protect your future.
WHAT IS AGGRAVATED UNLICENSED OPERATION?
Aggravated Unlicensed Operation is driving on a suspended license.
Suspension occurs for a designated duration of time, unless you face indefinite suspension for certain offenses such as writing bad checks to the DMV. If you fulfill all required conditions for the restoration of your license and you pay a fee to restore your license, you can get your license back easily at the end of your suspension. If your license was revoked, however, you must apply for an entirely new license and the DMV doesn’t necessarily have to grant one.
Until your license is fully restored and you are legally allowed to drive again, you need to refrain from getting behind the wheel when your license is suspended or revoked. If you have a hardship license, you can drive for designated purposes only, like going to work. If you have no hardship license, you are absolutely not allowed to drive at all on a suspended or revoked license.
If you do drive without a valid license because your license has been suspended or revoked, you could be charged with the offense of Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (AUO). AUO could be a misdemeanor or could be a felony, depending upon factors including your past conviction and the circumstances under which you were driving without a valid license.
If you have been charged with AUO, be sure to call an experienced NY Traffic Lawyer today. Call Chris Brown at (607) 988-3131 to discuss your defense today.
