so i've been meaning to renew my license for a while now, made a few attempts but between looooong lines at the dmv and limited internet access i've been putting it off. so of course i got pulled over this morning on my way to work and was given a ticket for it. the only thing is that since its been expired for over 4 months it becomes a criminal violation and i now have to appear in court on sept 12th. within an hour of being pulled over i renewed my lcense online at school. does anyone know the punishment for haveing an expired license that long? i can't really imagine going to jail over it, the only thing i can think of is a big fine, or .....suspending my license ...at worst. what do you think will happen?
so i found this on a public site where people can ask questions about criminal offenses and get answers. there's a couple of people on there who appear to be police officers and usually are the ones with the answers. after finding someone with a (somewhat) simialar case as mine the "officer" replied with this:
"Driving without a valid license is punishable by up to 6 months in jail and a $1000 fine. It's also 2 points against the license you don't have."
i don't like how things are starting to look ..............
Ok check it out. Now this isn't to say this is what is going to happen to you. But I got pulled for having an expired tag from my old 240sx on my Red AW11, with outdated insurance, and a lisence that was expired by 3 days. I went to court for driving with a suspended lisence, the cop said since I was honest with him and very polite, that's the only infraction he listed. I could have gone to jail, that night, no questions asked.
So a few questions. Who pulled you? FHP? Local sheriff? Local LEO? How is your record before this incident? When I went to court for the above incident, I was in a room with people there for drug violations, SERIOUS driving infractions(racing/excessive speeding/ etc. etc.), lots of fun stuff, a suspended lisence was the least of the judge's worries. I got out with a 50$ fine, plus court fees, which are a bitch. Came out to like 272$, a lot better than jail.
In short, if you are honest with the judge, say you effed up, and then show him your lisence is all sorted out, odd are you'll get off pretty easy, I did. I have/had 6 points too. But it's all luck of the draw you know? Is the judge having a good day? Or did he not get his morning bj? Just remember, be way too polite, thank him, dress nice(this is key), don't look like a slob. There are people there that look like they just crawled out of their cardboard box to come into the courtroom, this is bad. Look like you actually care. I highly doubt you'll go to jail. Sorry for the long post, but I've been there, and yea it sucks, but hey, just like people said to me, it's no one's fault but my own, and I paid for it. And guess what? I have NEVER done it again, as I'm sure you won't either.
it was a local (clearwater) cop. my recordshould be ok, couple of speeding tickets from a while back, and i think that's it. i took one to court and it was about like you described it. i went up, made my plead (no contest), and the judge took that and looked at my record and i got off payin the fine +court fees and that was it, no points or anything, that was almost a year and a half ago. i think that was the last time i got a ticket til now. the only thing i'm being cited for this time is my expired license. but yeah, like you said it all pretty much depends on what mood the judge is in that day. apparently this violation is up there with DUI's and stuff so my expired license should look pretty petty compared to what everyone else is most-likely bringing that day.
i guess i'm just gonna have to wait it out and to see how sept. 12th effects future..............
Actually, I don't think you're going to jail. Like the other dude said, just act all polite (not ****y), look fresh, and have some breakfast while you're at it.
I've been pulled over before with a suspended license and tags from another car; the cop just let me go and I drove home crapping in my pants.
...at worst. what do you think will happen?
..............
