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Defending a “Driving After Revocation” ticket: If Minnesota takes your driver’s license, consult a defense attorney. After all, you don’t want a “Driving After Revocation” conviction.
Driving with a suspended, revoked or cancelled license is (1) a driving-related crime that (2) usually follows a prior conviction triggering revocation.
Prevention first: Avoid driving at all, unless you have a valid drivers license. Sometimes a person with a revoked, suspended or cancelled driver’s license can get limited license with restrictions, from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. If so, be sure to only drive in compliance, to avoid a criminal charge.
If the State revokes, suspends or cancels, wait until eligible for reinstatement. Then apply for reinstatement. This helps avoid a new driving-related criminal charge. And it also helps avoid an additional license revocation period.
Penalties: driving after revocation
What happens if a police officer catches a person in Minnesota driving after revocation of their drivers’ license?
Criminal sanctions: Generally that can result in a misdemeanor criminal charge under Minnesota Statutes Section 171.24. And the maximum penalty is 90 days jail.
Normally police will give you a ticket to appear in court, rather than arrest you.
But a misdemeanor is a crime. And a conviction for a misdemeanor will creates a public criminal record history. This can cause future employment and other problems.
Without prior similar convictions jail time is rare. But probation of up to one year is common with jail time hanging over the person’s head. And a condition of “no same or similar offenses” is normal.
Jail for repeaters: But for people with multiple convictions for “Driving After Revocation” and similar offenses, jail time is common. The challenge increases for those still on probation for a DUI case.
Another license revocation: In addition to the criminal sanctions; the court “certifies” a “Driving After” conviction to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Minnesota DPS will then put it on your driver’s license record. And DPS will revoke your driver’s license for 30 days or longer (adding to any other license revocation period).
Your driver’s license attorney can help prevent a license revocation or suspension.
Driving After Revocation revolving door
And for some people, this leads to a revolving door problem. We see it a lot. It’s a vicious cycle of:
- convictions for driving without a license,
- triggers another loss of license, then
- driving again without a license, and so on.
Many people find it difficult to work and care for their children without driving. But driving without a license is not a solution. Because it only makes the problem grow.
There is a way out. And it begins with preventing a conviction on this, Driving After Revocation charge. Let’s break the cycle. An experienced defense attorney can help solve these problems and help prevent the revolving-door cycle.
The Best Defense
To find out the best defense to driving after revocation, call driver’s license attorney Thomas Gallagher. In the meantime, the most powerful defense actions are:
- getting Minnesota to reinstate your license,
- proof of insurance coverage, and
- a good defense attorney representing you.
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