Driving With an Expired License

San Antonio Traffic Ticket Attorney

As per section 521.457 of the Texas Criminal Penal Code, driving with a license that has expired is one of the ways you can be charged with DWLI or Driving While License Invalid. This offense involves operating a motor vehicle on a public road or highway when your license has been canceled, while your driving privileges have been suspended or revoked, or if you drove with an expired license.

The code states that the offense is committed, "While the person's license is expired if the license expired during a period of suspension; or after the renewal of the person's driver's license has been denied under any law of this state, if the person does not have a driver's license subsequently issued under this chapter." That you did not receive notice of your suspended license may, in certain cases, be used as a defense on your behalf.

If you have been charged with a violation of this section of the penal code, I strongly recommend that you secure knowledgeable representation from a San Antonio traffic ticket lawyer from my firm. At Law Office of J. Blake Etheridge, PLLC I aggressively protect the rights of those accused of traffic related offenses. Many of these can result in spending time in jail and prevent you being able to drive in the foreseeable future, so it is important to reach a positive outcome to your DWLI charges.

Prior Drunk Driving Charges and DWLI

Frequently, a DWLI is prosecuted after a person has already been charged and/or convicted of another offense which caused their license to be suspended. Drunk driving and various types of traffic tickets are the usual prior offenses. If you are convicted of DWLI, you may have to pay a fine of up to $500 and be jailed for no less than 72 hours or no more than 6 months. The charge can become a Class A misdemeanor in cases where an individual has been convicted of this or certain other crimes before. A Class A misdemeanor carries stiffer fines and longer terms of incarceration.

The law does not treat DWLI offenses lightly and neither should your defense.

Contact a San Antonio traffic ticket lawyer when you need legal help in fighting back against a driving with an expired license charge.