Driving While Suspended Defense Lawyer in Indiana

Driving While Suspended in Indiana...Before we go any farther let me say this...Indiana introduced a new law in January 2015 making the process of getting a hardship license or restricted license much, much easier. Click the link below to see if you can drive legally.

Click Here to See If You Qualify for Specialized Driving Privileges

Depending upon the reason for your suspension, an experienced criminal defense lawyer may be able to help you drive, legally, even if you are suspended as a habitual traffic violator, for unpaid tickets, or a DUI suspension. Click the link above to learn if you qualify for specialized driving privileges in Indiana.

Driving While Suspended | Suspended License in Indiana

Driving suspension, suspended drivers license, suspended driving license, license suspended, revoked license, revoked driving license, or suspended driver license, no matter what you call it...the bottom line is that your driving privileges have been revoked.

Indiana has three types of driving while suspended.

Notice is Required

In order to be convicted of Driving While Suspended in Indiana, you must have knowledge, notice, that your license has been Suspended. If an officer pulls you over, for a valid reason, and the officer learns that your license is currently suspended then you will be issued a ticket, an Infraction.

An infraction is civil in nature; it is a non-criminal violation of a rule, ordinance, or regulation. Think of a traffic ticket. The ticket that you receive for Driving While Suspended is your “Notice” of your suspension and the officer will sign the ticket acknowledging your receipt. Just like a traffic ticket, a fine must be paid.

If the police catch you driving with a suspended license again, the first time you were caught being your Notice, in the next ten years, the charges will be driving while suspended – prior, a class “A” Misdemeanor.

Summons to Appear

In this situation you will also be written a ticket which is a “summons for you to appear” at the next available court date. As your promise to appear or bond, you must sign the ticket. This appearance in court is mandatory, and if you do not appear the Judge will issue a warrant for your arrest. The third type of suspended driving license is “driving while suspended – misdemeanor”. For that one, you're suspended because of a crime and the first time you get caught it is also a class “A” misdemeanor. Your Notice coming when you are convicted of the crime.

Why is My License Suspended?

There are many violations that might result in a license suspension in Indiana. Some of these include:

• Operating a vehicle while intoxicated
• Refusing a breathalyzer/chemical test
• Failing a breathalyzer/chemical test
• Driving while license is already suspended
• Miscellaneous criminal acts while in a vehicle
• Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle
• Failing to appear for or pay for traffic offenses
• Failing to meet insurance/financial responsibility requirements
• Dropping out of or being expelled from school
• Accumulating too many points on your driving record
• Failing to complete a mandatory driver improvement course
• Writing a bad check to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
• Failing to pay child support
• The act of graffiti

The reasons for a suspension can vary widely. The length of suspensions, reinstatement requirements, appeals process and the possible fines involved also vary widely.

See the appropriate Indiana Code sections for any further questions:

IC 9-24-19-1 Class A infraction Sec. 1. Except as provided in sections 2, 3, and 5 of this chapter, a person who operates a motor vehicle upon a highway while the person's driving privilege, license, or permit is suspended or revoked commits a Class A infraction. As added by P.L.32-2000, SEC.1.

IC 9-24-19-2 Class A misdemeanor; commission within ten years of prior similar infraction Sec. 2. A person who operates a motor vehicle upon a highway when the person knows that the person's driving privilege, license, or permit is suspended or revoked, when less than ten (10) years have elapsed commits a Class A misdemeanor.

IC 9-24-19-3 Class A misdemeanor; commission while under suspension or revocation for offense Sec. 3. A person who operates a motor vehicle upon a highway when the person knows that the person's driving privilege, license, or permit is suspended or revoked, when the person's suspension or revocation was a result of the person's conviction of an offense (as defined in IC 35-41-1-19) commits a Class A misdemeanor.

Suspended Driving License Resources

• Reinstating Your Driving Privileges
• Suspension and Reinstatement