Vehicle Code 14601 VC states that driving in California with a suspended or revoked license is illegal. Examples include driving a vehicle after revocation of your license due to a habitual traffic violation, or driving while suspended for refusing to submit to a chemical test. If you have been charged with driving on a suspended license, speak with My Rights Law traffic violations lawyer regarding your legal options. We’ll do everything we can to help you maintain your driving privileges. Call us at (909) 340-2000 or contact us through our secure web form to take advantage of your free consultation today.
A prosecutor must establish the following to convict a person under VC 14601.1(a):
It is important to note that a defendant driver must know about the driver’s license suspension to be convicted.[1]
The driver’s knowledge is presumed if all of the following elements are true:
The L.A. County D.A.'s office will generally not prosecute VC 14601.1 cases unless the suspected suspended driver has been a repeat offender in the prior 24 months.[2]
With a good legal defense, a defendant can try to beat criminal charges under this statute.
The three most common defenses are:
A defendant is only guilty of violating this statute if:
It is a solid legal defense for an accused person to assert that they did not know this.
Example: The California DMV suspends Trisha's driver's license for accumulating too many points and becoming a negligent operator. She never receives the notice of suspension because it is mailed to an old address. The local law enforcement agency pulls her over for a broken taillight and discovers her license is suspended. There is no responsibility on Trisha's part.
Under these laws, an accused can only be found guilty if their license has been suspended. It is a solid defense for a defendant to establish that they had a valid driving license when they were caught driving.
In a necessity defense, the defendant tries to avoid guilt by showing that they had a good reason for committing the crime.
Under the context of this statute, an accused person may attempt to show that they committed the crime since they had no choice but to do so. For example, maybe the defendant was forced to drive because of an emergency.
Violations of this section are misdemeanors.
The exact punishment a person receives depends on the reason for suspending their license.
In addition, punishments will be determined by the following statutes:
Drivers can be penalized if they operate a vehicle on a suspended license, and their license had been suspended for reckless driving.[3]
A driver could receive the following punishment in these situations:
As a result of this statute, drivers are penalized if they:
In these cases, a driver will receive the following punishment:
If convicted under this statute, an individual can get their record expunged.
A judge will grant expungement if the following conditions are met:
Even if an accused violated probation, a judge might grant an expungement.
Our experienced criminal defense attorneys have years of experience handling cases like yours. Allow us to take legal matters off your hands. How do you know which firm is right for you? Before you make your decision, consider these questions.
The best law firms are not shy about sharing their case results. That's why we make it easy for you. You may browse our proven case results here. As you review these results, keep in mind that each case has different facts, and each client has different goals. Thus, a favorable outcome can take many forms. You may be able to avoid jail time by getting your charge reduced. Serving probation or getting a mental health diversion are also considered wins in our clients' books. Our proudest wins are dismissals and not guilty verdicts. If you've been accused of driving on a suspended license, our experienced criminal defense attorneys can help you get the charges reduced or dropped entirely.
Don't just take our word for it. Listen to what our previous clients have said about us. We have a long history of successfully defending clients in similar circumstances as you.
My Rights Law
California defense lawyers can help you if you face a suspended or revoked license charge. It is our specialty to handle criminal law cases, and we know how to represent our clients. You can count on our award-winning firm with years of experience and successful case results. We promise to defend all of our clients aggressively, diligently, and strategically. No matter how determined prosecutors are, we aren't intimidated or shrink in fear when odds don't seem to be in our favor. Call us at (909) 340-2000 or complete our secure web form to take advantage of your free consultation today.
Other traffic violations crimes we defend include: Driving Without A License
FOOTNOTES
[1] People v. Spence (2005) 125 Cal.App.4th 710
[2] CALCRIM No. 2220
[3] California Vehicle Code 14601 VC
[4] California Vehicle Code 14601 VC
This page was written, edited, reviewed, and approved by Bobby Shamuilian.
Attorney Shamuilian is the managing partner and founder of My Rights Law and is widely recognized as a legal authority, frequently appearing as a legal analyst and TV pundit on national news outlets.
He has earned a perfect “10.0 – Top Attorney” rating on AVVO and a “10.0” rating on Justia, and has been named among the “Top 40 Under 40” and the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” by The National Trial Lawyers.
With his proven expertise and dedication, Mr. Shamuilian is committed to protecting your rights and achieving the best possible outcome for your case.
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