A few months prior you had your license suspended. It was a long process and you felt downtrodden when you heard that your license would be suspended for the next few years. Unfortunately, you need to get to and from your job and you need to take care of your family, so the temptation of driving is relatively strong. However, the question arises in your mind about how illegal it is to drive with a suspended license. How much trouble are you liable to get into if you drive with a suspended license and is it against Colorado criminal law?
In today’s blog, we’ll be going over suspended licenses and how bad of a crime it is to drive even though you technically had your license taken away. You know on some level it is illegal, but how much trouble can you get into if you break this criminal law and drive without a valid license? At Ores Law, one of the areas that we focus on is criminal law. If you find yourself in trouble with the law and you need a lawyer who is experienced in misdemeanors, then contact Ores Law. We are located in Loveland and serve the Northern Colorado area.
Is It A Crime To Drive With A Suspended License In The State Of Colorado?
The short answer is yes, it is against the law and is considered to be a crime in the State of Colorado to drive with a suspended license. According to the 42-2-138 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, when your license has been suspended, denied, or revoked, it’s considered to be a misdemeanor to drive anyway. When someone drives while their license is revoked, suspended, or denied, then you’re driving in Colorado ‘under the restraint.’ When you are ‘driving under restraint,’ you can face penalties for deciding to be on the road when knowing that you shouldn’t be. The penalties can range anywhere from jail time to paying fines that can reach $500. If drugs or alcohol are involved, then you could be facing an even heftier penalty depending on the situation and the amount of drugs and alcohol that are in your system.
About Colorado Driving Under Restraint Law
We touched on ‘driving under restraint,’ but what exactly does that entail? When you drive under restraint, you are operating a motor vehicle in the State of Colorado with a license that has been denied, revoked, or suspended anywhere in the United States. This means that if you had your license taken away in Utah and you drive in Colorado, then you can still get in trouble for operating a vehicle without a license. There are many reasons that someone can have their license revoked, suspended, or denied, but one of the more common reasons is because of a DUI or a DWAI.
What Happens If You’re Caught?
If you’re caught ‘driving under restraint,’ then you’ll want to hire a lawyer who is familiar with criminal law for your case. When you had your license revoked, denied, or suspended, you probably consulted a lawyer about the situation, but it’s even more important that you appoint a lawyer to your case this time around because the penalties can be much more detrimental due to the fact you’re already on thin ice. If you find yourself in this situation, reach out to Ores Law.