Multiple traffic infractions or conviction of a serious traffic law violation can result in a suspended driver’s license. Many drivers are unaware that their licenses have been suspended and drive anyway. This risks additional fines and punishments, however, which will delay the process of having your driving privileges fully restored. If you are unsure whether your license has been suspended, we have some practical advice for finding out as well as correcting the problem. Count on the experienced legal counsel of NY Traffic Ticket Lawyers.
What You Need to Know About Suspended Driver’s Licenses
Driving with a suspended license is illegal in New York. If you have an out-of-state license, it could be suspended in the state but still valid in other states. Meanwhile, if you have a license issued by New York and it is suspended, driving in the state anyway could result in a fine of hundreds of dollars and even jail time of up to 30 days.
There are two types of suspensions:
Definite
A definite suspension is one that exists for a certain period of time. The traffic court order will tell the driver how long the suspension period will last. These are some common reasons a driver may receive a definite suspension:
- Failure to carry automobile accident liability insurance
- Conviction of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Receiving too many traffic tickets in a certain amount of time
- Failure to follow the rules for junior drivers
Indefinite
An indefinite driver’s license suspension will notify the driver of what needs to be done to restore driving privileges. You may receive an indefinite suspension for:
- Not responding to a traffic ticket
- Not paying a Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA)
- Failure to file a motor vehicle accident report
- Failure to pay child support
- Having unpaid New York State tax debts
- Failure to carry automobile accident liability insurance
If you are unsure whether your driver’s license is suspended, you can check your status on New York’s MyDMV website. You must have a New York state-issued driver’s license, permit, or non-driver ID and it must be your most recently issued document. You will need the number (e.g. DMV ID number) from your most recently issued document.
Restoring Your Driving Privileges
The process for fixing a suspension depends largely on the reason why it was suspended in the first place. You may need to apply for a conditional or restricted license that allows you to drive in limited situations. For instance, one of these licenses can permit you to drive to and from work. The DMV will notify you if you are eligible for one of these licenses with the suspension order you receive in the mail.
Lifting the suspension could require such steps as:
- Waiting until the suspension period ends (for a definite suspension)
- Paying a suspension termination fee
- Paying any debts owed such as taxes or child support
- Answering and taking care of your outstanding traffic tickets
- Obtaining an appropriate amount of accident liability insurance
Depending on the nature of your suspension, you may need to do one or more of the above in order to lift the suspension. Fortunately, you do not have to handle these matters on your own. That’s where we come in.
Was Your License Suspended? Let Us Help You Get It Back
The sooner you act to lift the suspension on your driver’s license, the sooner you can get your life back to normal. Let NY Traffic Ticket Lawyers assist you. We can discuss temporary options like a conditional license as well as long-term solutions that will help you positively resolve all outstanding New York traffic matters. Give our team a call to get started today.
