Did you know that almost 30% of Florida drivers currently have their license suspended for one reason or another? That high number should alert you to just how easy it is to get your license suspended and how seriously police in Clearwater and throughout the state take laws surrounding safe driving.
To begin, here are some reasons why an individual would have his or her license suspended in Clearwater:
- Habitual traffic offender: Those three words pretty much sum it up! A habitual traffic offender is a driver that just keeps getting in trouble with the law when driving. In Clearwater, a driver is considered to be a habitual traffic offender if he or she was received three major violations in the last five years or fifteen convictions for various moving violations with points in the last five years. Under either evaluation, a Clearwater driver will be classified as a habitual traffic offender and have his or her license suspended for five years.
- D–6: Around 2.6 million drivers in the state of Florida have a D-6 license suspension. Failing to take action on a court citation or failing to comply with a court directive are the common reasons why a driver would have a D-6 license suspension. Some drivers with a D-6 suspension have no idea that this was even a possibility until they receive the notice in the mail!
- Point Suspension: Get a traffic ticket and it is likely that you will also get points placed on your driving record if you do not attend traffic school. Simple math, when a driver reaches a certain number of points in a 12, 18 or 36 month period, he or she will have their license suspended for somewhere between 30 days and one year. Different rules apply for drivers under the age of 18.
- Other Offenses Resulting In Suspension: Racing, fleeing to elude, writing a worthless check, drug-related possession charges, driving off without paying for gas, infractions dealing with death or serious bodily injury, making a false affidavit for a drivers license are all offenses that result in a suspended license. Additionally, there are also non-driving offenses that can find an individual sans license if the court deems it necessary. These include: insurance fraud, possession of tobacco by a minor and petit theft.
Florida is considered one of the strictest states in the nation when it comes to license suspension regulations and rules. As you can see from the list above, there are a lot of reasons why an individual in Clearwater would have his or her license suspended and the reasons vary in degree of severity. In many situations, there is an opportunity to have the suspension reversed, lessened or to obtain a conditional license.
Moral of the story: drive safe and stay out of trouble. If that advice is a little too late then give us a call. The attorneys at Finnenbloom & Haenel P.A. receive hundreds of call every month from drivers that have had their licenses’ suspended by the state. Call today to discuss your options.
