A conviction for operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked registration has serious penalties in New York. If you are convicted, it could seriously impact your future. The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers understand that drivers are busy, and many good drivers forget about or put off dealing with a suspended or revoked registration.
Whether or not this is a first-time offense or you have previous charges or convictions, you will benefit from discussing your case with a skilled attorney. Contact The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers to schedule a free case evaluation and learn about how we can fight the charges against you. Our traffic attorneys have the skills and experience to provide an excellent legal defense.
Operating a Vehicle with a Suspended or Revoked Registration Is a Serious Offense
Under New York law, every vehicle on the road is legally required to be registered with the DMV before it can be driven. Many New York drivers assume that driving a vehicle with a suspended registration is only a minor traffic violation. On the contrary, driving on a suspended registration is a misdemeanor criminal offense under New York law. If you are convicted, you will have a permanent criminal record and suffer all negative repercussions.
N.Y. Vehicle & Traffic Law § 512- Operating While Registration or Privilege Is Suspended or Revoked
Every New York state vehicle must be registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles before anyone can legally drive the vehicle. When drivers fail to renew their registration, they can face a non-moving violation. If the vehicle’s registration was suspended or revoked by the DMV for any reason, driving the vehicle becomes a criminal act that carries serious penalties. There are two primary reasons the DMV would suspend a driver’s registration. They may need to pay their insurance premiums or registration fees or they may have unpaid traffic violations leading to a suspended or revoked registration.
The Penalties for Operating with a Suspended or Revoked Vehicle Registration
Driving on a suspended vehicle registration is considered a misdemeanor in New York. Those who are convicted will have a permanent criminal record. Drivers may need to realize a conviction under N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 512 can result in jail time. For first-time offenders, driving with a suspended registration carries a jail sentence of up to 30 days.
Those convicted for a second offense within 18 months of the first conviction face up to 90 days in jail. Those convicted of a third offense face up to 180 days in jail. Drivers can also face fines between $50 and $100 for a first-time conviction. A second conviction carries a fine of up to $200 and a third conviction carries a fine of up to $500. Additionally, drivers need to pay a mandatory state surcharge of $93 if they are in a town or village and $88 if they are in a city.
Courts Consider Multiple Factors During Sentencing
The severity of the penalties depends on the details of your unique case. The court will consider multiple factors, including why your vehicle registration was suspended. They’ll also consider why a law enforcement officer pulled you over. For example, if your registration or driver’s license was suspended because of traffic violations like speeding or driving while under the influence, the penalties may be more serious. When the reason for the original suspension involves a risk to other drivers on the road, you can expect heavier consequences.
On the contrary, if your vehicle registration lapsed and you forgot to renew it, as many drivers do, the penalties will not be as severe. Your attorney can negotiate a better outcome for your case. Instead of facing a misdemeanor charge, you can reduce the charge to a traffic infraction by restoring your registration and having any suspension of your registration cleared or rescinded.
The Benefits of Speaking to an Attorney Right Away
Getting pulled over with a suspended or revoked registration can make good drivers feel like common criminals. You may have had unresolved parking tickets and could not make the necessary payments, resulting in a suspension of your registration. Most drivers who face these types of charges didn’t intend to violate the law. Drivers have not considered themselves harming others on the road in any way. Regardless of why you were charged with driving with the suspended registration, you will benefit from contacting an attorney immediately.
Trying to represent yourself could cost you much more money, require time off of work, and result in significant stress and headaches. As soon as you hire The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers, we will handle every aspect of your case for you. Working with an experienced attorney could be a decision that prevents you from further suspensions of your driver’s license. It may even help you avoid going to jail and all the consequences of a permanent criminal record.
Legal Defenses to Driving on a Suspended or Revoked Registration
The best legal defense strategy depends on the unique factors in your case. If your vehicle registration was suspended, you might be able to prove the suspension itself wasn’t valid. You can show payments made to your insurance company to prove that there was no insurance lap. If this proof isn’t available, your attorney can negotiate with the prosecutor handling your case to reduce the charge from a misdemeanor criminal offense to a traffic offense. Your attorney can investigate your case, gather evidence to bolster your case, and attempt to persuade the prosecutor to reduce the charges against you.
Contact an Experienced New York Traffic Ticket Attorney
If you’re facing a misdemeanor charge for operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked registration, you’ll benefit from contacting an attorney as soon as possible. The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers have a proven track record of successfully defending clients from a wide range of traffic infractions and misdemeanors. We understand the process and know how to negotiate the best outcome. Contact The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers today to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation consultation.