There are several reasons why you may be pulled over and not have your Florida driver’s license. You may have never obtained one in the first place, it may have expired, or you may have left your license at home. In the state of Florida it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license. This means you may be arrested for driving a car, truck, or even a moped without a valid license. However, it is quite difficult to get to work, school, or the doctor without driving there yourself. If you have been arrested or charged with driving without a valid license, contact an experienced Tampa no valid driver’s license attorney at Pallegar Law, P.A. to schedule a free consultation today.
Florida Statute 322.03 explains the punishments if you are caught driving without a valid license.
Before 2013, Florida law required that foreign visitors must obtain an International Driving Permit, along with their foreign license, in order to legally drive. In 2013, a portion of that law was repealed, no longer requiring the International Driving Permit (HB 7059). It is perfectly legal now for a foreign visitor to operate a motor vehicle in Florida with only a valid license from their home country.
Driving without a valid driver’s license is classified as a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by 60 days in jail and a fine of $500. A conviction will not count towards classification as a Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO), unlike a conviction of driving on a suspended license. A conviction of driving on a suspended license requires an element of proof-- it must be proven that you knew that your license was suspended. For a conviction of driving without a valid driver’s license, no proof is needed. The act of operating the vehicle without possessing a license on a public road is all that is needed for proof.
Although a conviction will not count towards HTO classification, this crime will appear on your criminal record, impacting your job, insurance, and daily life. If you or someone you know has been charged with driving without a valid license, call an aggressive Tampa no valid driver’s license attorney at Pallegar Law, P.A. to explore your options and all available defenses.
There are a few possible defenses to a charge of driving without a valid driver’s license. These include: an unlawful stop led to your arrest and charge, you were not driving on a public road or highway, you possessed a valid foreign license, or you have a valid license, but did not have it on you at the time of the stop and arrest.
If you are caught driving on a suspended license, you may be charged with either no valid driver’s license or driving on a suspended license, depending on the arresting officer. However, the penalties for subsequent offenses are severe. If you are caught driving more than once on a suspended license, you will most likely be charged accordingly, counting towards an HTO classification. If you are arrested for any crime related to an invalid or suspended driver’s license, it is important that you stop driving as soon as possible. Contact an experienced Tampa no valid driver’s license attorney to explore your options and to fight the charges. In order to achieve the best possible outcome, do not continue driving in the even that you are arrested and charged again.
Call Pallegar Law, P.A. at 813-444-3912 (Tampa) or 941-893-5816 (Sarasota) to be connected to someone who can help.