Read the Sun-Sentinel story on the idea here [ embed this link
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/sfl-illegal-drivers-crackdown-p100709,0,240449.story ] .
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Judges, Licenses & Lying: The Consequences of Driving Without a License
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I was defending a client for a traffic ticket recently at the Palm Beach County Courthouse, when I witnessed an interesting situation.
The judge was asking other defendants in traffic cases – people who had been cited for driving with an invalid license or who had their licenses suspended – how they got to court that day. He asked others who were going to lose their license that day how they’d get home.
Most replied that they had a ride or that they relied on public transportation. Good thing, because driving without a license can result in 60 days in jail or a $500 fine.
When they walked out and climbed behind the wheel of a vehicle, county Sheriff’s deputies or Florida Highway Patrol troopers swooped in to arrest them for driving without a license.
The sting was ordered by Maj. Luis Ramil, commander of the FHP’s Troop L, along with Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw. Here’s how it works: Officers – some dressed in street clothes – mill around hearings. When a judge suspends a driver’s license, officers alert colleagues outside. The driver pulls out of a parking spot, and they’re arrested and their cars are towed.
Is this a strong-armed tactic? Some don’t think so, and this isn’t just a case of people thumbing their noses at the law. Some call driving without a license a deadly epidemic. The American Automobile Association in 2003 reported that drivers without valid driver’s licenses are likely to be involved in fatal crashes five times more often than licensed drivers.
In 2008, some 379,976 tickets were written across Florida for driving with no license, an expired license, an improper license, and a suspended or revoked license, the Sun-Sentinel found in a review of records from the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The review also found that last year, Florida revoked or suspended some 2.4 million driver’s licenses.
The issue is compounded by illegal aliens who have no residency papers – or driver’s licenses. Moreover, a suspended license often means your auto insurance is voided by the carrier, which only worsens the potential negative results of this epidemic.
In my years of defending traffic citations, I’ve found that people simply have gotten into the habit of disregarding the law. My advice:
- If you don’t have a license, or if your license gets suspended by a judge during your hearing, arrange for a ride or take public transportation.
- Don’t lie. Lying to a judge can lead to a contempt charge atop the crime of driving without a license.
- If you’re caught in the sting, consult with an attorney. This can be a complicated defense. You need a professional on your side.
Citizens groups are asking for stronger enforcement. State representatives would like to increase the penalties. Meanwhile, law enforcement officials promise more troopers and deputies stationed as part of stings across Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
If you don’t have a valid license, maybe it’s time to find another ride home – or you may not make it home at al.
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I was defending a client for a traffic ticket recently at the Palm Beach County Courthouse, when I witnessed an interesting situation.
The judge was asking other defendants in traffic cases – people who had been cited for driving with an invalid license or who had their licenses suspended – how they got to court that day. He asked others who were going to lose their license that day how they’d get home.
Most replied that they had a ride or that they relied on public transportation. Good thing, because driving without a license can result in 60 days in jail or a $500 fine.
When they walked out and climbed behind the wheel of a vehicle, county Sheriff’s deputies or Florida Highway Patrol troopers swooped in to arrest them for driving without a license.
The sting was ordered by Maj. Luis Ramil, commander of the FHP’s Troop L, along with Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw.
Here’s how it works: Read the rest of this entry »
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