If you require professional assistance for building a defense for driving on a suspended license in Ft. Lauderdale, a skilled criminal attorney may be able to fight for your case. A professional traffic lawyer could help gather evidence, interview key witnesses, and examine the circumstances of your arrest to determine whether or not it was conducted lawfully. Read on to learn more about what goes into building a defense for driving on a suspended license in Ft. Lauderdale, as well as the ways a dedicated attorney could help.
Initial Steps in Building a Defense
The first thing a qualified lawyer will look at is whether or not the government prosecutor can prove that the accused individual was actually driving or in actual physical control of the motor vehicle based on the case’s evidence. Then an attorney will investigate the individual’s driver’s license record to see if it was lawfully suspended at the time of the offense.
Challenging a Suspension
If a suspension is noted on somebody’s driver’s license record, an experienced attorney will look for ways to eliminate it. They could start by challenging some of the entries that might be on an individual’s driver’s license record by re-opening an old case and making an argument that the case was not prosecuted properly or that the individual did not have proper representation. If a prior case could be removed from that individual’s record, that might remove a qualifying offense and, therefore, remove a suspension from their record.
Potential Mitigating Factors
Examples of mitigating factors to suspended license charges include anything that could help that individual’s license be restored, such as the lack of history on their license record or the reason for the suspension itself. Having a very benign reason for a license suspension such as missing a court fee will give someone a much higher chance at being able to challenge their penalties compared to an individual whose license was suspended because of multiple offenses or driving under the influence. Reach out to an experienced attorney to learn more.
The Importance of Retaining a Traffic Lawyer
Because traffic defense attorneys are experienced with these cases, they will know all of the potential defenses to fight for as well certain programs that might be available for individuals in place of harsher penalties. Lawyers can fight for extensions, act as aggressive advocates in court, and look for ways to get cases dismissed. Attorneys may also be able to have the charges changed to something lesser that would not result in the Department of Motor Vehicles declaring the driver a habitual traffic offender.
Negotiating with the Prosecution
Lawyers have the ability to negotiate resolutions where the prosecutor may change the charge under certain circumstances. If driving on a suspended license is the individual’s third offense within a five-year period, that change of charge designation is crucial in allowing them to keep their license. For this reason, it can be imperative to contact an attorney as soon as possible. If you require assistance in building your defense for driving on a suspended license in Ft. Lauderdale, do not hesitate to reach out to a professional traffic lawyer today for your initial consultation.
