Like all states, California requires all drivers to be properly licensed and in good standing with the DMV. There are many circumstances in which the DMV can restrict or revoke your driver’s license such as violating California’s traffic laws or committing certain crimes. If you are caught driving while your license has been suspended, you could be arrested and possibly face jailtime for the crime of driving with a suspended license.

Driving on a Suspended or Revoked License Crimes

VC 14601

This section of the vehicle code prohibits driving any motor vehicle when you know the DMV has suspended or revoked your license for a specific offense. These offense include: reckless driving, a physical or mental disability, abuse of alcohol or drugs, or being declared an incompetent or negligent driver.

A violation of this code carries a penalty of up to 6 months in county jail, fees and fines, probation, and various other potential consequences.

VC 14601.1

This section of the vehicle code prohibits driving when you know your license was suspended or revoked for any reason.

A violation of this code carries a penalty of up to 6 months in jail, fines and fees, probation, and various other potential consequences. A second offense within 5 years carries a minimum penalty of 5 days in jail and a maximum of 1 year in jail.

VC 14601.2

This section of the vehicle code prohibits driving when you know your license has been suspended due to a DUI conviction. Prosecutors consider this one of the most serious of the 14601 Vehicle Code offenses.

A violation of this code carries a minimum of 10 days in jail and a maximum of 6 months in jail, probation, fines, and fees. A subsequent offense within 5 years carries potential jailtime of 30 days to 1 year.

VC 14601.3

This section of the vehicle code applies if you receive a negative driving record while your license is suspended or revoked. You may be declared a “habitual traffic offender” if your license was suspended or revoked and within a year you were convicted of any combination of:

            – Two or more serious driving related offenses such as DUI, reckless driving, or another 14601 violation.

            – Three or more injury-causing or property-damaging accidents with damages of $750 or more.

            – Three or more general moving violations such as failure to stop or speeding.

VC 14601.4

This section of the vehicle code applies if you know your license has been suspended or revoked due to a DUI conviction, you committed a traffic violation or act of negligence that caused an accident, and that accident caused bodily injury to another person.

A violation of this code carries a penalty of 10 days to six months in jail and mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device in your car at your expense.

VC 14601.5

This section of the vehicle code applies if you know your license have been suspended or revoked due to a DMV administrative action regarding a DUI refusal or driving with a specified blood alcohol content.

For drivers 21 and older, the blood alcohol content (BAC) that will trigger an administrative suspension is generally 0.08 or higher. For drivers under 21 or drivers who are on probation for DUI, a BAC of 0.01 or higher would trigger an administrative license suspension.

A violation of this code carries a penalty of up to six months in jail. If you have a previous 14601 conviction within the past 5 years, the court will impose a mandatory jail sentence of 10 days.

If you or a loved one is being charged with any violation of VC 14601, contact Hunter Legal Group now at (424) 388-0169 or by filling out the form below.