Matthew J. Ruff Criminal Law Blog on Lawyers.com

In California the law imposes harsh penalties for being caught driving while your license has been suspended due to a DUI or drunk driving conviction.  Vehicle Code section 14601.2 governs the area dealing with license suspension charges because of driving under the influence.  Fortunately, a driving on suspended license attorney can offer guidance and sound legal advice to those facing a criminal charge of VC14601 and other offenses pertaining to the suspension of driving privileges.

Due to the pressures put forth by poliitically influential groups such as MADD and the insurance industry, California has enacted some of the most stringent laws and consequences for driving on a suspended license violations.  The most severe  of all the charges is the one that punishes those who continue to drive after the Court took their license away following a DUI conviction.  A minimum of 10 days jail is required for a conviction of the statute and the Judge is also compelled to order that an ignition interlock device be installed on all vehicle registered to a convicted person.

A first offense driving on a suspended license charge (14601.2) in Los Angeles County are punishable by a fine of approximately $2000, 10 days in jail, and mandatory IID on all cars owned.  Once again, it is important to emphasize that a lawyer can often negotiate a lesser charge or work a deal that does not require jail.  Driving on suspended with priors becomes much more serious and a lawyer should certainly be hired to represent folks accused of this type of case.

The other thing to remember when dealing with driving on suspended license violations is that usually the individual cited will be on probation for the underlying charge (DUI, etc) and a plea of guilty or no contest will trigger a violation of probation and additional consequences.