What happens if I get stopped by the police and I have a suspended license?

What happens if I get stopped by the police and I have a suspended license?
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The English Law Firm | Robert English
Huntington Beach, CA
You can be charged with a Vehicle Code 14601, driving on a suspended license. The offense is a misdemeanor and has the potential for both fines and jail time. If you are charged with this offense, I would recommend hiring an attorney to deal with the matter.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/17/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Edward J. Blum
You will get cited for driving on a suspended license. Your vehicle will be impounded for 30 days. The cost of impound will quickly be more than the value of the vehicle or the note holder will get it out of impound and repossess it.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/18/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Eric Sterkenburg
If you are stopped by a law enforcement officer and cited for driving with a suspended license you will be charged with a misdemeanor. Unless you have other warrants out on you, the likelihood that you will be arrested is low. Depending on why your license is suspended you may have time to get the suspension released. If you do then the charge will be reduced to driving without a license, an infraction.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/18/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Geoffrey M. Yaryan
First, you will be cited. Second, you car could be impounded.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/18/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Grant & Grant
Your car will be impounded for 30 days, you can be arrested, and will be charged with a Misdemeanor Driving On A Suspended License. All of which exposes you to a maximum sentence of 6 months in county Jail and $1,000 fine, should you be convicted at trial.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/17/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Rizio & Nelson
You'll be cited for driving on a suspended license and you car can be impounded for up to 30 days. The police will charge you an exorbitant fee to release your car after that period (possibly thousands of dollars, which might even exceed the value of your car). The penalties for driving on a suspended license depend on why your license was suspended in the first place, but they can involve jail time. You'd probably also be violating your probation if you're on probation, meaning you could be sentenced up to the maximum on the underlying charge.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/17/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: The Law Office of Harry E. Hudson, Jr.
You may find yourself arrested. Driving on a suspended license is a misdemeanor. If arrested, you will go to court, may be convicted and , if you are, do more jail time and pay a big fine. Oh, and car gets impounded. Best I can do off the top. See a traffic specialist.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/17/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Robert Mortland
You may be cited for a violation of CVC 12500 (if you never had a license) or CVC 14601 (if your license was suspended). The best thing to do is get your license back! You could be facing mandatory jail time depending on why your license was suspended. Further, the police will tow your car if you are cited for driving on a suspended license.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/17/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Dennis Roberts, a P.C.
Most likely you will go to jail and then have your probation revoked if you are on probation.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/17/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: California Criminal Defense Center
Depending on the reason for the suspension, you may be arrested and taken to jail. You will likely be charged with a misdemeanor violation. Certain suspensions are more serious than others and require a minimum jail term (such as a 10-day jail minimum if the suspension was for a prior DUI). With other types of suspensions, you may be heavy fined but not incarcerated.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/16/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Daniel K Martin
For a first time offense you probably will not get any jail time, just a fine and maybe some community service.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/16/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Office of Jeff Yeh
It depends what caused your license to be suspended in the first place. If it was due to a DUI, then you face 10 days minimum in county jail.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/16/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

Answered By: Law Offices of Phil Hache
You will likely be charged with a misdemeanor VC 14601 "driving on a suspended license," or some subsection of that statute depending on why your license is suspended. Also, if you are on probation, you may have a probation violation issue.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 11/16/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.

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