A new Florida law that took effect July 1 adds driving without a valid license to the offenses that count toward habitual traffic offender status, meaning drivers with expired or improperly renewed licenses could face more severe consequences than before.
House Bill 35 amends Florida Statute § 322.264 to include this offense in the list of violations that contribute to a habitual traffic offender designation. Under the statute, a driver who accumulates a certain number of qualifying offenses within five years can be declared a habitual traffic offender, resulting in a five-year revocation of driving privileges.
Previously, driving on an expired or never properly renewed license did not count toward this status. Now, what was once considered a minor traffic infraction can move a driver closer to revocation. The impact extends beyond the five-year suspension; it can affect a person's ability to get to work, and driving after revocation becomes a felony rather than a mere traffic offense.
This new offense also adds to any existing suspensions a driver may have from other cases, including those following a DUI charge. Because these charges accumulate on a person's record, a Tampa traffic violations lawyer can challenge the individual offenses that contribute to a revocation and help keep a driver below the threshold that triggers it.
Drivers who already have offenses on their record are most at risk, and resolving open cases before the law took effect was critical. For those now facing charges, legal counsel can provide guidance on how to navigate the new rules.
StechLaw Criminal Defense, a Tampa law firm led by Ben Stechschulte, a board-certified criminal trial lawyer and former prosecutor, is encouraging Florida drivers to understand the changes under House Bill 35. The firm handles a range of cases, including DUI defense, drug charges, and traffic violations, and can assist those facing potential habitual offender designations.
