Discovering your driver’s license has been suspended can transform a routine traffic stop into a legal crisis, especially when you had no idea about the suspension. Driving While License Suspended (DWLS) without knowledge occurs when drivers unknowingly operate vehicles with suspended licenses in Florida, resulting in civil infractions with fines and potential criminal consequences if not handled properly. The penalties for DWLS charges in Florida range from mild to severe under Florida Statute § 322.34, depending entirely on whether or not the driver had prior knowledge of the suspension.
Criminal Defense Attorney Brian Gabriel has defended clients facing suspended license charges in West Palm Beach for over 30 years, developing strategies to help drivers reinstate their driving privileges and avoid the severe consequences that come with repeated violations. Many Palm Beach County drivers find themselves facing DWLS citations after routine traffic stops, completely unaware their licenses had been suspended for reasons ranging from unpaid fines to administrative errors. If you’re facing suspended license charges in West Palm Beach, understanding the difference between DWLS with and without knowledge becomes crucial for protecting your driving privileges.
What Are the Main Reasons for License Suspension in Florida?
There are several different reasons why a driver may have his or her license suspended in the Sunshine State. License suspensions frequently occur over incidents that do not directly tie in with driving, such as failure to pay fines or appear in court. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles suspends licenses for accumulating too many points, child support delinquency, DUI arrests, and failure to maintain insurance coverage. The main reasons you can have your driving privileges suspended include the following examples:
- Too many points: accumulating points on your driver’s license
- Child support: delinquency in payments
- DUI arrest: a DUI arrest or conviction
- Testing refusal: refusal to submit to DUI testing
- Court obligations: failure to pay fines, court costs, or failure to appear in court
- Insurance issues: lack of car insurance or continuously lacking car insurance
- Drug convictions: drug-related criminal convictions
- Traffic violations: accumulating too many traffic infractions or speeding tickets
- Theft convictions: certain theft-related offenses
- Vision standards: failing to meet required vision standards
Understanding which specific reason led to your suspension helps Attorney Brian Gabriel develop the most effective defense strategy for your case.
What Penalties Do You Face for DWLS Without Knowledge?
DWLS without knowledge is considered a civil traffic infraction in Florida, typically resulting in fines rather than criminal charges, but subsequent violations with knowledge can lead to misdemeanor or felony charges with potential jail time. There are various penalties you could face when driving with a suspended license, such as heavy fines and further points added to your driving record. The accumulation of points from DWLS violations can trigger habitual traffic offender (HTO) status, resulting in a mandatory 5-year license revocation. Even criminal penalties including jail time become possible with repeated violations.
Too many points on your driving record will eventually lead to HTO status in Palm Beach County, which results in a 5 year license revocation. The financial impact includes court costs, reinstatement fees, and increased insurance premiums that can affect drivers for years after the initial citation. If you have recently been informed of your suspended driver’s license by receiving a citation, it is important to make it known that you did not know your license was suspended. When speaking with law enforcement, do not go further than stating you were unaware of the suspension, as you run the risk of incriminating yourself. All they have to know is that you did not know until the moment you were stopped that your driving privileges were suspended.
Why You Need Legal Representation for DWLS Charges
DWLS without knowledge is considered a civil traffic infraction for which you are typically fined. At this point it is incredibly important to hire Criminal Defense Attorney Brian Gabriel to help you understand the reasons behind your suspension and develop a strategy to have the suspension lifted. Acting quickly to address the underlying cause of your suspension prevents the situation from escalating to criminal charges, as driving with knowledge of suspension carries misdemeanor or felony penalties depending on your driving history. It is vital that you do not pay the fine as it is considered a guilty plea.
Mr. Gabriel will handle your case using all the knowledge and skill developed over the span of his extensive career. You must act fast to reinstate your driving privileges, for the penalties of DWLS with knowledge charges are much more severe. Start with a free consultation today by calling Criminal Defense Attorney Brian Gabriel of The Law Office of Gabriel & Gabriel or complete an online contact form to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Driving With a Suspended License
What happens if I unknowingly drive with a suspended license in Florida?
So many licenses are suspended throughout Palm Beach County that drivers are often unaware that they are on the roads with a suspended license, finding out only when they are pulled over for a traffic stop that, in fact, they have just committed a serious traffic violation. This is known as driving while license suspended without prior knowledge, or DWLS without Knowledge. DWLS Without Knowledge is considered a civil traffic infraction for which you are typically fined, but repeated violations can escalate to criminal charges with potential jail time and license revocation.
How do I find out if my license is suspended in Florida?
You can find out if your license is suspended by performing a license status check online by going to: https://services.flhsmv.gov/dlcheck/. Attorney Brian Gabriel can also help you verify your license status and identify any outstanding issues that may affect your driving privileges during your consultation.
What happens if I get points on my driver’s license in Florida?
If you accumulate too many points within a certain time period in Florida, your license can be suspended or revoked. A Florida driver’s license is automatically suspended for: 30 days if you receive 12 points within 12 months, or 3 months for 18 points within 18 months. These point accumulations can also contribute to habitual traffic offender status, which carries severe long-term consequences for your ability to drive legally.
What happens if you drive without insurance in West Palm Beach?
Driving without insurance can result in license suspension, along with various other penalties such as heavy fines and further points added to your driving record. Even jail time is possible for repeat offenses. Too many points on your driving record will eventually lead to habitual traffic offender status in West Palm Beach, which results in a 5 year license revocation. The financial burden includes mandatory SR-22 insurance requirements and significantly increased premiums once your license is reinstated.
Contact a West Palm Beach DWLS Attorney in Palm Beach County
If you’ve been cited for DWLS without knowledge in West Palm Beach, taking immediate action to address both the citation and underlying suspension can prevent criminal charges and protect your future driving privileges. Criminal Defense Attorney Brian Gabriel brings over 30 years of experience defending suspended license cases throughout Palm Beach County, including his time as a former Assistant State Attorney where he prosecuted thousands of traffic cases.
Start with a free consultation today by calling Criminal Defense Attorney Brian Gabriel of The Law Office of Gabriel & Gabriel. You can also complete an online contact form to learn more.
