You may remember with fondness the day you got your driver’s license. Perhaps your parents let you drive to your friends’ houses to show it off, or maybe they even presented you with a vehicle of your own. Back then, driving was pure pleasure, a rite of passage, and having your license opened up a whole new world to you.
As an adult, however, driving is a different story. For most people, driving is a necessity, one they cannot manage without. Although more and more businesses allow their employees to work from home, you still may have errands to run, family to visit and obligations to fulfill that require traveling farther than you can reasonably walk. Therefore, the suspension of your license can mean you are willing to take the risk and drive anyway. What’s the worst that could happen?
What can I expect?
Possessing a driver’s license means you have been properly trained by the state of Ohio in the safest way to operate a motor vehicle. It also means you have demonstrated you are capable of driving safely, that you carry appropriate insurance and that you have fulfilled other duties, such as paying child support. Neglecting these important responsibilities can result in the state suspending or revoking your license. If you decide to drive anyway, you may face any of the following penalties:
- A misdemeanor charge on your record
- Fines as high as $1,000
- Hours of community service
- Jail time or time in community residential sanction, depending on the offense
- Additional time on your license suspension
- The potential for having to forfeit your vehicle
Of course, you may simply have neglected to renew your expired license, but if you drive anyway, you risk similar penalties with additional risk of spending as long as six months in jail, particularly if police stop you more than once for this offense. Additionally, driving without ever having applied for a license can mean serious consequences, perhaps including those listed above.
You can imagine that dealing with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to address such violations is a very complicated undertaking. It may mean rectifying a situation, such as paying up delinquent support obligations or completing the terms of a court order. Nevertheless, there may be options available that can help you get your license reinstated so you can regain your normal life, and taking these steps is too important to put off.
