Your driver’s license can be suspended for numerous reasons. It could be suspended for medical reasons, Highway Traffic Act (HTA) violations, escalating penalties, other convictions, or even failing to pay child support. Regardless of the reasoning, a suspended license means you should not, under any circumstances, operate a vehicle. If you choose to operate a vehicle with a suspended license, you can be faced with severe penalties.
Keep reading to learn more about driving with a suspended license.
Conviction More Likely
If you are convicted of driving while your license is suspended, there are prescribed penalties in the HTA which a judge or justice of the peace must impose. There is no tolerance in the HTA as there are minimum penalties which must be imposed. There are very few circumstances which a court may accept to avoid these penalties if you are convicted. Once you have been charged with driving with driving under suspension, a prosecutor only needs to prove the following:
- You were operating a vehicle;
- You were on a “Highway” as defined by the HTA; and
- You’re driver’s license was suspended when caught
Once these are proven, you will have to face the penalties.
Penalties
The penalties for driving with a suspended license are severe. It is very important you pay attention to your driving behaviour as the accumulation of convictions or infractions can lead to your license becoming suspended. If you are convicted of driving while your license is suspended, the courts will have little regard for individual circumstances and you will lose your license for a further period of time. The penalties are in place to prevent possible incidents on the road and deter those with a suspended license from driving. If you are convicted while your license was suspended, then you will face the following minimum penalties:
- An additional 6-month driving suspension
- Fines of at least $1,000 + costs, and up to $5,000 + costs
- Possible jail time or probation
You will also be summoned to appear in court. A summons is different than a traffic ticket as it is a mandatory appearance. If you do not appear in court, you can face more legal penalties and charges.
If you are charged with driving under suspension there are ways in which the lawyers and paralegals with X-Copper can assist in potentially having the charged withdrawn, dismissed, or reduced. Please do not hesitate in giving us a call!!
If you liked this blog, check out this one on, “Can You Be Fined For Driving In A Bus Lane?”
