Criminal charges for operating a vehicle during a license suspension or revocation.
Updated February 08, 2021
In Pennsylvania, your driving privileges can be suspended or revoked for many different reasons. Motorists who get caught drive during a revocation or suspension will likely face criminal charges. Depending on the circumstances, being convicted for driving on a suspended or revoked license can result in fines, jail time, and additional time without a license.
Reasons for Suspension or Revocation
Your license can be suspended or revoked for certain driving offenses, criminal convictions, and a number of other reasons. Some of the more common situations that lead to the loss of driving privileges include:
- acquiring too many demerit points for traffic violation convictions
- being convicted of using a vehicle in the commission of a felony
- traffic violations offenses that lead to the death or injury of another person
- certain types of fraud, forgeries, and counterfeiting related to vehicle documents and plates
- vehicular homicide convictions
- being convicted for street racing
- reckless driving convictions
- being convicted for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and
- failing or refusing to take an alcohol test in violation of the state's implied consent laws.
However, this isn't a complete list of circumstances that can result in license suspension or revocation. Lots of other reasons can lead to losing your right to drive.
Reinstating Your License
Suspension and revocation periods vary depending on the circumstances. But once the suspension or revocation period is over, you'll typically need to pay a reinstatement fee (and might need to meet other requirements) before you can legally drive again. The fee is normally $70 or $88.
Criminal Charges for Driving on a Suspended or Revoked License
In most situations, driving on a suspended or revoked license is a summary offense.
In many cases, driving on a suspended or revoked license is a summary offense and carries a fine of $200 but no jail time.
However, driving during a DUI-related suspension or revocation carries more serious penalties. These types of convictions can result in:
- a $500 fine and 60 to 90 days in jail for a first offense
- a $1000 fine and at least 90 days in jail for a second offense, and
- a $2,500 fine and at least six months in jail for a third or subsequence offense.
Driving on a suspended or revoked license will generally also result in an additional period of revocation or suspension.
Legal Help for Charges of Driving After Suspension or Revocation
Driving on a suspended or revoked license can lead to serious consequences. If you've been arrested for one of these offenses, you should get in contact with an experienced defense attorney. A qualified attorney can tell you how the law applies to the facts of your case and help you decide on the best course of action.
