Get Help Minimizing Criminal Consequences With an Experienced Driving on Suspended License Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, on Your Side
In Pittsburgh and throughout Allegheny County, law enforcement and prosecutors take the offense of driving while your license is suspended seriously. They often crack down on those accused of breaking the law again after already getting their licenses suspended for violations like DUI, reckless driving, or accumulating too many points on their driving record. When you’re facing fines, further loss of driving privileges, and potentially jail time, you need a Pittsburgh suspended license lawyer on your side.
At Hadeed Law, led by attorney Samir Hadeed, your defense is strategic, personalized, and backed by a skilled and compassionate approach to legal representation. Contact the law firm today for a confidential initial consultation at no cost, and find out what options you have for beating these charges.
Cops on Your Rear? Call Samir for Suspended License Defense
Samir Hadeed is a criminal defense attorney recognized throughout Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania for his commitment to excellence and to his clients. In addition to his reputation as an effective driving on suspended license attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, he handles serious traffic violations of all kinds, including reckless driving, as well as DUI crimes at the misdemeanor and felony levels.
Every case requires a personalized, strategic defense to achieve the most favorable outcome possible. For more than a decade, Hadeed Law has built a reputation for providing legal defenses clients can count on. Whether your biggest concern is extended loss of driving privileges or potential jail time, Samir Hadeed is here to help you minimize the consequences of driving on suspended license charges.
Facing Driving on a Suspended License Charges in Pittsburgh, PA
In PA, the legal statute that establishes driving on a suspended or revoked license as a crime is Section 1543 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 75. Under this law, driving a vehicle when your license has been suspended generally constitutes a summary offense.
A summary offense is the lowest level of crime under PA law, and, while less severe than a misdemeanor or felony offense, it can still appear on background checks. If the crime you’re accused of amounts to no more than a summary offense, you can be sentenced to a $200 fine and extended loss of your license.
- Generally, a conviction of driving on a suspended license results in an additional year of lost driving privileges.
- In the case of an indefinite suspension, usually due to not completing a required driver improvement course, the additional suspension typically amounts to 30 days.
- A conviction of operating a vehicle when your license has been revoked can lead to an additional two years of revocation.
This law also outlines situations in which the state takes driving on a suspended or revoked license more seriously.
Driving on a DUI Suspended License
The circumstances of your initial license suspension matter when it comes to facing accusations of driving on a suspended license. This offense becomes more serious if your loss of driving privileges resulted from:
- DUI charges of any kind (general impairment, high BAC, highest BAC, commercial DUI, and more
- Breath test refusal, which is a violation of the state’s implied consent to chemical testing law (under Section 1547 of Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 75)
- Conditions imposed as part of Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program participation, which pertains to a pretrial diversion program that allows you to avoid a criminal conviction by meeting certain conditions
Although Pennsylvania law still classifies a first offense of driving when your license has been suspended for one of these reasons as a summary offense, it allows for harsher penalties:
- A prison sentence of 60 to 90 days
- A fine of $500
For a second violation, the prison term is a minimum of 90 days, and the fine increases to $1,000. A third or subsequent offense of driving with a DUI license suspension is a third-degree misdemeanor under PA law, and it is punishable by a minimum prison term of six months and a fine of $2,500.
The stakes are much higher when the initial loss of driving privileges is related to DUI or breath test refusal, and that makes the guidance of a Pittsburgh suspended license lawyer even more critical in these situations.
Drunk Driving Arrests During DUI License Suspension
Harsher penalties also apply if you are accused of driving on a suspended license for DUI, breathalyzer refusal, or ARD program participation, and:
- Have even a 0.02% blood or breath alcohol (BAC) level, which is significantly lower than the standard legal limit of 0.08%
- Have any amount of qualifying controlled substances (Schedule I or non-prescribed Schedule II or III) in your system
- Refuse to submit to a breath or blood test during a lawful traffic stop, in violation of the state’s implied consent law
For a first offense, which constitutes a summary offense, you could face a minimum of 90 days in prison and a $1,000 fine. A second offense rises to the level of a third-degree misdemeanor, punishable by a minimum of six months in prison and $2,500 in fines. For a third or subsequent violation involving DUI-related accusations during a DUI-related license suspension, you could be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor crime and sentenced to at least two years in prison and $5,000 in fines.
How a Driving on Suspended License Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, Defends Clients
With fines, longer license suspensions, and potential jail time on the line, how you defend against charges of driving on a suspended license matters. You need a thorough understanding of the law and legal procedures, as well as defense arguments based on a painstaking analysis of the unique facts of your case.
There are potential defenses against charges of driving on a suspended license, including:
- Establishing that you were not the one behind the wheel
- Arguing that the evidence against you was obtained through unlawful procedures (such as a traffic stop made without cause or a violation of your constitutional rights)
- Establishing that your license was, in fact, valid at the time of the incident, even if your ID card was lost or stolen or your driving privileges were suspended after the fact
- Arguing that the suspension of your driving privileges was improper or wrongly imposed in the first place, or that errors in the license restoration process led to wrongful charges
- Establishing that you never received proper notice of license suspension
- Asserting that emergency circumstances, such as a risk of harm or urgent medical need, necessitated driving despite the license suspension
Depending on the circumstances, your defense strategy may focus on challenging unlawfully obtained evidence or demonstrating that the case against you is insufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, which is required to secure a criminal conviction in Pennsylvania. These strategies can be implemented even before your case goes to trial through pretrial motions to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence or dismiss the charges. Your Pittsburgh suspended license lawyer can also raise such challenges during a trial, exposing weaknesses in the case against you before a judge or jury.
In some cases, it may make sense to negotiate a plea deal with favorable terms instead of taking your case to court, especially if you could be facing mandatory minimum penalties. At Hadeed Law, attorney Samir Hadeed focuses on developing personalized strategies for each client, informed by their individual goals and priorities.
How Hadeed Law Can Help
Having Hadeed Law as your advocate means investing in full-service legal support focused on achieving favorable outcomes. The law firm has a history of securing resolutions such as:
- Dismissal of charges
- Reduction of charges
- Suppression of unlawfully obtained evidence
- Negotiation of favorable plea deals
- Not-guilty trial verdicts
- Effective advocacy for lesser penalties in sentencing
Minimizing the consequences of a driving on a suspended license charge through a strong defense strategy allows you to keep this legal issue from continuing to impact you for months or even years.
Why Choose Hadeed Law as Your Pittsburgh Suspended License Lawyer?
Hadeed Law is known for the firm’s devotion to the clients it serves, skillful handling of various types of defense cases, and willingness to overcome obstacles that keep defendants from getting professional legal representation.
Unwavering Commitment to Clients
Attorney Samir Hadeed is known for his genuine compassion for clients, his dedication to working closely with the defendants he represents, and his consideration of each client’s unique goals.
Comprehensive Support for Criminal and Traffic Violations
Because Hadeed Law defends clients against a full range of traffic violations and criminal charges, the firm is well-equipped to manage these matters that are both criminal offenses and traffic-related issues.
A Focus on Putting Skilled Defense Within Reach
Through free consultations and multilingual support, Hadeed Law ensures that concerns over costs and language barriers never stand in the way of getting the initial guidance you need and making informed decisions about your defense.
Contact a Pittsburgh Suspended License Lawyer at Hadeed Law Today for a Free Case Evaluation
An initial consultation with a Pittsburgh suspended license lawyer can help you determine where you stand and what’s at stake in your case, without cost, obligation, or confidentiality concerns. This knowledge can help you move forward with implementing a legal approach that provides peace of mind even during the stressful circumstances of facing criminal charges.
For help from a driving on suspended license attorney in Pittsburgh, PA, contact Hadeed Law online or call 412-275-5413 today.