To drive on Alabama roads, you must have a valid license. If the Director of Public Safety suspended your license and you continue to drive, you could face fines and jail time.
Common Reasons Your Driver’s License Could Be Suspended
In Alabama, your license could be suspended for a number of reasons, including:
- Failing to obtain the minimum required insurance coverage
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Accumulating 12 or more points on your driving record within 2 years
- Causing an accident that resulted in death, injury, or property damage in excess of $500
- Leaving your car on the side of a public road
In general, your license can be suspended for up to 1 year and is usually not withdrawn for longer than that. However, even a few months without your license could make it difficult for you to get to work, school, or run errands. Unable to find alternate transportation, you may decide to drive yourself to your destination even though your license is suspended.
Penalties for Driving with a Suspended License
In choosing to drive with a suspended license, you could be charged with a misdemeanor, which carries a jail sentence of up to 180 days and a fine between $100 and $500. Also, you must pay a penalty of $50, which gets put into the Traffic Safety Trust Fund and the Peace Officers Standards and Training Funds. The Director of Public Safety may also decide to revoke your license for an additional 6 months.
If your license was suspended because of a DUI offense, and you are caught driving, officers can immediately remove you from your vehicle. They can also impound the car you were driving even if it was not yours (unless the owner of the vehicle is present and has a valid driver’s license on them).
Applying for a Hardship License
Under a law enacted in January of 2019, you may be able to drive with a suspended license in certain circumstances. The law allows individuals whose license was suspended for non-public safety reasons, such as unpaid parking tickets, to apply for a hardship license. With a hardship license, you can drive to work, church, school, court-ordered programs, medical appointments, grocery stores, and voting places. To obtain this license, you must apply with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and show that you are unable to obtain reasonable transportation to take care of essential business.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Tidwell Law Group, LLC
Our attorney at Tidwell Law Group, LLC is committed to providing aggressive legal defense to individuals charged with criminal offenses. We understand the consequences of a conviction and the hardships it could create, and we have a record of success getting charges reduced, dismissed, and dropped. We’re ready to do the same for you.
Allow our lawyer to provide the legal help you need. Call us at (205) 536-7770 or contact us online.
