Los Angeles - The Los Angeles Police Department on Tuesday announced new rules that would give those driving without a license a chance to avoid having their vehicles impounded.
Currently if you're driving without a license police can, and often do, impound your vehicle, but under these new rules the vehicle can be retrieved at the scene by a licensed driver.
Under current rules many people who are caught driving without a license, or driving on a suspended license, have their car impounded, which costs hundreds of dollars to retrieve and many of the vehicle owners can't afford the cost of getting their vehicle back.
Fullerton criminal attorney Michael L. Guisti explains a lot of people get caught without a license and even though it may seem insignificant you have to remember it is a misdemeanor.
Aside from having to deal with impound fees and court fees, which is already a bad headache, Guisti says, having a misdemeanor on your record could cause potential problems for future employment and when you go to buy or rent a place to live.
Along with Los Angeles loosening up vehicle impounding rules there is a lot of talk in Sacramento of the state adopting the same rules, says Guisti, but, even if your car isn't impounded remember you have a potential misdemeanor to deal with.
Now if you were driving on a revoked license, Guisti goes on to say, that is a much more serious charge that could possibly involve jail time.
If you were caught driving without a license or driving on a suspended license the good news is most of the time prosecutors are willing to reduce charges or sometimes drop charges altogether, says Guisti, and a lot of that has to do with your criminal record and explaining the reason you were driving when you weren't suppose to be driving.
For example, Guisti explains, if you tell and show prosecutors and the judge that you had no choice, but to drive to work regardless of your license situation, because you had to keep supporting you and your family, most prosecutors and judges are willing to reduce the charge to an infraction.
Driving without a license or on a suspended license is a serious matter that could create bigger problems for you and your family, and that is why you must contact our Orange County criminal attorney experts at the Law Offices of Michael L. Guisti right now at 888-478-8999.
We have over a decade of experience getting our client's driver's license back and serious misdemeanor charges reduced to simply traffic tickets, and even less, so call us right away.
