COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM: DRIVING ON A REVOKED OR SUSPENDED LICENSE IN ILLINOIS

I always warn my clients not to drive after their license is suspended for DUI. Once in trouble, you simply become a magnet for more.

Recent Illinois case law has held that even if your license has already been revoked, the court can suspend it again. And each suspension increases your punishment.

In People v Blair, a Defendant was convicted of driving on a suspended or revoked license in two separate cases. As a result, the judge sentenced the defendant to concurrent prison terms of seven years for one case and three years for the other. The defendant argued that he couldn’t be suspended because his license was already revoked. The court disagreed. Further, the court upheld the defendant’s otherwise lengthy sentences based on his criminal record which included 10 convictions for driving on a suspended or revoked license.

These types of charges are extraordinarily easy for the state to prove. They need only show that your license was suspended or revoked because of an alcohol or drug related offense and that you were driving. If there truly was no legal basis for the stop, you may be able to win a motion to suppress the arrest.

If you are charged with driving on a suspended or revoked, contact an experienced attorney immediately. An attorney may review your case for your best possible defense. As noted, an attorney may petition the court to throw out the arrest if there was no legal justification for stopping your car.

If you have questions about this or another related Illinois criminal or traffic matter, please contact Matt Keenan at 847-568-0160 or email matt@mattkeenanlaw.com.

(Besides Skokie, Matt Keenan also serves the communities of Arlington Heights, Chicago, Deerfield, Des Plaines, Evanston, Glenview, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Niles, Northbrook, Park Ridge, Rolling Meadows, Wilmette and Winnetka.)