It is vital to remember that driving is a privilege – not a right. Unlike the right to have an attorney represent you in court or the right to a trial by a jury of your peers, the right to drive can be taken away. In fact, under Utah law, there are dozens of ways that you can lose your driving privileges as a penalty for another crime.
If you were arrested and charged with a crime where losing your license is a potential penalty, talk to an attorney today. Additionally, if you lost your license, you can face additional penalties and suspensions for driving with a suspended license. Darwin Overson, Salt Lake City license suspension attorney at Overson Law, may be able to help. For a free consultation on your drivers’ license suspension or revocation case, call (801) 758-2287 today.
When Can Utah Suspend Your Drivers’ License
Utah takes offenses like driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, and other vehicle crimes very seriously. Because of this, there are dozens of vehicle-related offenses that can get your drivers’ license suspended. In addition, because driving is such a strong freedom, other crimes carry mandatory (or potential) drivers’ license suspensions as part of their penalties. The following crimes are all eligible for license suspensions in Utah:
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Impaired driving
- Reckless driving
- Vehicular homicide
- Lying on driving forms
- Any felony motor vehicle crime
- Failing to stop your car at the command of a police officer
- Some commercial driving offenses
- Firing a gun (or using an explosive or incendiary weapon) from a car
- Racing
- Failing to use a court ordered ignition interlock
- Certain drug offenses
- Theft of motor vehicle fuel
- Using a false ID
- Driving with a suspended license
Different penalties carry different lengths of license suspension. For instance, reckless driving and impaired driving usually carries a 3-month license suspension, whereas drug crimes carry a 6-month suspension, and using a fake ID to purchase alcohol can net a 1-year suspension.
In some cases, you may not have a license in the first place. If you commit one of these offenses, you have no license to suspend. Still, the State of Utah can delay your ability to get a drivers’ license. This means that if, for instance, someone under 16 commits a drug crime, their date of eligibility for getting a drivers’ permit or license will be pushed back an additional 6 months.
If your license was issued by a state other than Utah, but commit one of these crimes within the state, Utah can revoke your ability to drive in Utah. This means that you will not be able to drive to court to face your charges, or drive to jobs, friends, or family within the state. In addition, your home state may have penalties for out-of-state license suspensions. This may require you to report your Utah driving suspension to your home state, and your home state may revoke or suspend your drivers’ license.
Driving with a Suspended License in Salt Lake City
If your drivers’ license was already suspended, it is illegal to get behind the wheel of a car. Even if you are driving very short distances or driving safely, it is illegal to drive without a license. This could set you up for potential penalties under at least two separate crimes:
- Driving without a license under Utah Code § 53-3-202
- Driving with a suspended license under Utah Code § 53-3-227
Driving without a license is an infraction, punished with a fine up to $750. Driving with a suspended license, however, is more serious. In general, driving with a suspended license is a class C misdemeanor under § 53-3-227. However, Utah residents may have their charges upgraded to a class B misdemeanor under § 53-3-227(3) if their original suspension was due to any of the following:
- Refusing a BAC test during a DUI;
- DUI;
- Automobile homicide;
- Any suspension that was already extended;
- Driving a commercial vehicle with a suspended CDL (commercial drivers’ license).
If you are an out-of-state resident with your Utah driving privileges suspended, driving in the State of Utah is also a class C misdemeanor. If your out-of-state license was suspended under the crime of another state that lines up with one of the crimes listed above, the driving while suspended offense is also upgraded to a class B misdemeanor.
A class C misdemeanor in Utah is punished with up to 90 days in jail and fines up to $750.
A class B misdemeanor in Utah is punished with up to 6 months in jail and fines up to $1,000.
In addition to these fines and jail time, driving with a suspended license can be grounds for the court to extend your license suspension even further.
Limited and Hardship Licenses in Utah
If your license was suspended in Utah, you may still be able to drive in some limited circumstances. A penalty for a crime should not ruin your life entirely. Recognizing this, Utah allows “limited” licenses to transport yourself for the following purposes:
- Employment,
- Education, or
- Child visitation.
These three grounds are when a court “shall” issue a temporary license, but there may be additional grounds where a court may, at its discretion, grant a limited license (e.g. for religious purposes, like going to church).
This does not mean that you can drive as part of your employment or education while your license is suspended, so you cannot usually get a temporary license to drive a taxi or a delivery truck while suspended. Instead, these licenses allow you to drive to limited locations, such as driving to-and-from work or school.
To get a limited license, you must go to court and request one, and convince a judge you need it. Our attorneys can help with this. In addition, this license only lasts 90 days, and will need to be renewed regularly as long as your license is suspended and the need for a temporary license exists.
Can I Appeal a License Suspension in Salt Lake City?
As we mentioned, DLD will determine whether you can get your license back or if it should be suspended. If the DLD decides to suspend your driver’s license, you cannot file an appeal with them. Typically, you can only appeal a determination made by the court. If this is your case, your attorney can help you throughout Salt Lake City’s ordinary appeals process. However, this doesn’t mean you will be left out of recourse and have your license suspended indefinitely.
With your Salt Lake City multiple traffic violations lawyer’s assistance, you may try to get your license back. Utah offers an alternative to drivers who have already depleted their 200 points. You can participate in what is known as the Defensive Driving Course. By participating and completing this course, you can knock up to 50 points off your driver’s license. This may not be the situation you’d want to be in. However, completing your Defensive Driving Course can allow you to keep your license and have a second chance to improve your score and avoid having your license suspended in the future.
Our Lawyers Can Help if You Were Charged with Driving with a Suspended License in Salt Lake City
If you committed a crime where license suspension is a potential punishment, you have already lost your license, or you were accused of driving with a suspended license, talk to an attorney right away. Salt Lake City license suspension attorney Darwin Overson may be able to help you seek a limited license, fight charges against you, and get your license restored. For a free consultation on your case, call (801) 758-2287 today.
