A dangerous combination with harsher combined penalties than people may realize…
According to our Los Angeles DUI Lawyers, charges of driving on a suspended license and California DUI have a two-fold relationship.
The first aspect is “cause.” A California DUI charge can cause your driver’s license to become suspended in numerous ways. You then become vulnerable to a driving on a suspended license charge if you nonetheless persist in driving.
In most California DUI cases, suspension occurs by action of the California Department of Motor Vehicles a month or so following arrest. It can also later be suspended as a court ordered penalty following conviction.
Your license can also be suspended if you:
- refuse to submit to a blood, breath, or urine test during a DUI investigation by law enforcement;
- drive with any detectable level of alcohol in your system while on DUI probation;
- drive with any detectable level of alcohol in their system under the age 21; or
- drive a vehicle that requires a commercial license with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04% or greater.
Driving on a suspended license and California DUI have a second aspect to their relationship that concerns “consequences.” When the reason for your suspension is a California DUI violation, the consequences of illegal driving are particularly harsh.
California Vehicle Code 14601 spells out these consequences in great number and precision. In short, they can include multiple years of probation, thousands of dollars in fines, and even up to a year in jail.
Courts take cases that involve driving on a suspended license and California DUI very seriously. You should too. If you or someone you care about is facing one of these cases, our Los Angeles DUI Lawyers strongly recommend consulting with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.