As every 15-year-old hopeful driver knows, a driver’s license is your key to the road. However, once this privilege is attained, then it’s easy to take away. The consequences for driving with an expired license in Texas shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Driving with Expired License in Texas Offense
By law, all drivers are obliged to carry a valid driver’s license to operate a vehicle on a public road. You may receive a Driving While License Invalid (DWLI) citation if:
- your driver’s license isn’t on hand while operating a vehicle on a public road
- your driver’s license is invalid
- your driver’s license or privilege is revoked or suspended under Texas law
- the renewal of your driver’s license has been denied
Unsurprisingly, this is a commonplace offense. Typically, a DWLI offense will result in a Class C misdemeanor. However, if certain factors are present, the offense may be escalated to a Class B or A misdemeanor.
These factors include:
- previous conviction(s) for driving while license invalid
- previous conviction(s) for driving while license suspended
Driving with Expired License in Texas Consequences
As mentioned, if this is your first DWLI offense, you will face a Class C misdemeanor and will not be subject to arrest. Although, if the reason your diver’s license is invalid is due to suspension by outstanding traffic citations and a warrant has been issued, an officer may arrest you.
Don’t take Class C misdemeanors lightly. It’s critical to avoid a conviction, if possible. If convicted of DWLI, you may face the following consequences:
- the Department of Public Safety issues an automatic suspension to your license
- a DWLI conviction opens the door to enhanced charges in the future that may lead to jail time, should you be pulled over for the same offense
- punitive surcharges
Seek Representation Immediately
Driving with an expired license in Texas isn’t as straightforward and routine as you might assume. Sure, either have a valid license, or you don’t. But therein lies nuance. The Texas Department of Public Safety handles suspensions, and like any regulatory agency, they make mistakes. It’s not uncommon for a license to be wrongly suspended or suspended for an incorrect period of time.
At AZ Law Firm, we will assess all the pertinent factors in your DWLI case, including why you were stopped in the first place. We may be able to resolve your offense after reviewing dash camera footage if no valid reason existed to pull you over.
Driving with expired license in Texas conviction can result in a downward spiral. Suspension surcharges can be challenging to pay for most. Additionally, most people still have to drive to work, putting them at risk of picking up additional charges. We will work to avoid a DWLI conviction and provide you with the best possible driving future. Give us a call for a free consultation, and we’ll begin strategizing your defense.
It may seem counter-intuitive to hire an attorney on traffic violations but that in most cases it will save you money. If your cases get dismissed then you will own no court cost or fines. Even if the traffic violations are not dismissed, you will still save money since we frequently avoid a conviction. In traffic ticket cases, a conviction will result in points on your driving record, a spike in monthly insurance premiums, and may even result in your license getting suspended. We can always reduce fines on traffic tickets and we are able to take care of your case from start to finish without you ever having to appear in court. To find out how we can help you, contact our traffic attorneys at (512)-400-7070 for Driving with Expired License in Texas defense. We will schedule an initial client consultation to review your citation details and lay out a game plan for traffic ticket Texas.
We understand times are tough and that there probably hasn’t been a tougher time in your life. Although we could get away with charging exuberant amounts, we prefer not to as we are a law firm by the people, for the people. We do not want you to worry about whether you can afford to hire an attorney to protect and defend your rights. Call us and be surprised at the quality you receive compared to what other law firms will quote you!
Accordingly, the attorneys at AZ Law Firm will always provide you with a free initial consultation. During this initial consultation, our criminal lawyers will evaluate your case, inform you of any legal options that may be available, and allow you to ask any questions that you may have. AZ Law Firm offers affordable rates for all our clients and will work with you on payment plans. Our firm accepts checks, debit cards, and most major credit cards to cover the costs of your legal representation.
