Driving with a suspended license in Oklahoma is a crime. Thus, you should always take it seriously and avoid driving in Wagoner if you are not legally entitled to do so.
Why are Licenses Suspended?
Licenses are suspended for a reason. If your Oklahoma driver’s license was suspended, it may have been due to one of several reasons.
Driving under the influence (DUI) is one of the most common reasons for a suspension. Likewise, Oklahoma is an implied consent state. If you are driving upon its roadways, you are deemed to have consented to a breath or urine test if you are pulled over. If you refuse to take the test, your license will be automatically suspended for a period from 180 days to three years, regardless of whether you have ingested any intoxicating substances.
Many states, including Oklahoma, use a point system for traffic violations. If you accumulate a certain number of points — 10 or more within a five-year period of time — your license will be automatically suspended in Oklahoma.
If you leave the scene of an accident or are convicted of any drug-related offense in Oklahoma, your license will also be suspended.
In addition, there are a number of infractions for which the penalty includes a mandatory license suspension. For example, if your car was used in the commission of a felony, manslaughter, negligent homicide, or to steal gasoline from a pump. Okla. Stat. tit. 47, § 6-205
Penalties for Driving on a Suspended License in Oklahoma
If are caught driving on a suspended license in Oklahoma, you could be convicted of a misdemeanor. Also, the penalty will escalate each time you are pulled over.
The first time you are caught driving with a suspended license in Oklahoma, you could be fined from $100 to $500. For a second conviction, the penalty rises to between $200 and $750.
For subsequent convictions, the fine rises to between $300 and $1,000.
In addition, the court may sentence you to up to a year in jail. Okla. Stat. tit. 47 § 6-303
However, if the suspension of your license was due to a DUI and you are caught driving, the penalties can be even higher.
You could face a fine of $500 to $1,000 for a first offense, $1,000 to $2,000 for a second offense, and between $2,000 and $5,000 for any subsequent offense. In addition, the court could sentence you to jail for up to a year upon your third or subsequent conviction.
Finally, if you continue to drive on a suspended license in Oklahoma, the court may extend the period of the suspension.
Can you Reinstate Your Suspended License?
License suspensions come with their own protocols for reinstatement.
Some will require you to take a driver’s education course in addition to waiting out the suspension. Others will require that you take a substance awareness class.
Initial Strategy Session: Wagoner Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are accused of driving with a suspended license in Oklahoma, talk to an experienced Wagoner criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Do not wait and do not speak to the police. Remember that everything that you say to them can and will be used against you.
For a low-cost consultation, call Wirth Law Office – Wagoner at 918-485-0335.
As always, you have the option to enter a legal question in the form at the top right of this page.
