Source: https://www.edmundmichielaw.com/drive-suspended-revoked-habitual-offender-virginia.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 20:34:43+00:00

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Getting your license or getting driving privileges restored -- if you can -- before you go to court on a No OL or driving suspended type charge is always best, and can lead to a much better outcome. Courts in Virginia are trying to be more and more sensitive to situations where people have had their licenses suspended for failing to pay fines. Courts are often willing to give the defendant a chance to get his or her license restored in exchange for a better-than-normal outcome.
Case involving suspended, revoked and restricted licenses are surprisingly complicated.
​Having an experienced attorney can make a big difference.
is ​NOT enough evidence alone for a conviction.
​"B. Except as provided in §§ 46.2-304 and 46.2-357, no resident or nonresident (i) whose driver's license, learner's permit, or privilege to drive a motor vehicle has been suspended or revoked or (ii) who has been directed not to drive by any court or by the Commissioner, or (iii) who has been forbidden, as prescribed by operation of any statute of the Commonwealth or a substantially similar ordinance of any county, city or town, to operate a motor vehicle in the Commonwealth shall thereafter drive any motor vehicle or any self-propelled machinery or equipment on any highway in the Commonwealth until the period of such suspension or revocation has terminated or the privilege has been reinstated or a restricted license is issued pursuant to subsection E. . . .
C. A violation of subsection B is a Class 1 misdemeanor. A third or subsequent offense occurring within a 10-year period shall include a mandatory minimum term of confinement in jail of 10 days."
"Va. Code ​§ 46.2-300 Driving without license prohibited; penalties.
Code 1950, § 46-347; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-349; 1968, c. 494; 1970, c. 347; 1984, c. 780; 1989, c. 727; 2005, c. 245; 2007, c. 532; 2008, c. 684."
Be aware that a second or more offense of driving without a license can also lead to vehicle impoundment pursuant to Va. Code ​§ 46.2-301.1.
A violation of Va. Code § 18.2-272 is generally treated much more seriously by area courts than is a violation of the normal driving suspended statute described above, despite both violations being the same class of misdemeanor.
A defendant can be found guilty of a violation even if driving to a place allowed by his/her restriction, if he/she has even just a .02% BAC or if he/she is driving a vehicle without a required ignition interlock.
A person who has been convicted of a second or third or more DUI offenses within 10 years can face even stiffer penalties for violating the terms of a license revocation or restrictions. See Va. Code § 391 . For such defendants, even a first offense of violating the restricted driving terms can potentially result in a mandatory one year in the penitentiary of jail if for instance the driving endangered ". . . the life limb or property of another . . ." Id. A second offense in violation of the statute also will normally be subject to the mandatory one year in the penitentiary or jail.
Be aware that an offense of driving in violation of Va. Code § 18.2-272 can also lead to vehicle impoundment at the time of arrest pursuant to Va. Code ​§ 46.2-301.1, with potentially additional impoundment time after a conviction see Va. Code § 46.2-301(A).
The good news is that the law was changed more than a decade ago in such a way that drivers are no longer being declared "Habitual Offenders" when convictied of three or more "serious" offenses.
The bad news is that a large number of people previously declared Habitual Offenders remain in that status until such time as they successfully petition to have their driving privileges restored (which I have done for many people).
Furthermore, those existing "Habitual Offenders" who are caught driving continue to be treated harshly.
"Va. Code § 46.2-357. Operation of motor vehicle or self-propelled machinery or equipment by habitual offender prohibited; penalty; enforcement of section.
2. If such driving of itself endangers the life, limb, or property of another or takes place while such person is in violation of §§ 18.2-36.1, 18.2-51.4, 18.2-266 or § 46.2-341.24, irrespective of whether the driving of itself endangers the life, limb or property of another and the person has been previously convicted of a violation of §§ 18.2-36.1, 18.2-51.4, 18.2-266 or § 46.2-341.24, such person shall be guilty of a felony punishable by confinement in a state correctional facility for not less than one year nor more than five years, one year of which shall be a mandatory minimum term of confinement or, in the discretion of the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, by mandatory minimum confinement in jail for a period of 12 months. However, in cases wherein such operation is necessitated in situations of apparent extreme emergency that require such operation to save life or limb, the sentence, or any part thereof, may be suspended. For the purposes of this section, an offense in violation of a valid local ordinance, or law of any other jurisdiction, which ordinance or law is substantially similar to any provision of law herein shall be considered an offense in violation of such provision of law.
D. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions 2 and 3 of subsection B, following conviction and prior to imposition of sentence with the consent of the defendant, the court may order the defendant to be evaluated for and to participate in the Boot Camp Incarceration Program pursuant to § 19.2-316.1, or the Detention Center Incarceration Program pursuant to § 19.2-316.2, or the Diversion Center Incarceration Program pursuant to § 19.2-316.3.
1968, c. 476, § 46.1-387.8; 1970, c. 507; 1980, c. 436; 1988, c. 559; 1989, c. 727; 1990, c. 828; 1993, c. 677; 1994, c. 50; 1995, c. 799; 1997, cc. 5, 344; 1998, c. 298; 1999, cc. 945, 987; 2000, cc. 956, 982; 2004, c. 461."
Be aware that an offense of driving in as an habitual offender can also lead to vehicle impoundment at the time of arrest pursuant to Va. Code ​§ 46.2-301.1, with potentially additional impoundment time after a conviction see Va. Code § 46.2-301(A).
"E. Any person who knowingly authorizes the operation of a motor vehicle by (i) a person he knows has had his driver's license, learner's permit or privilege to drive a motor vehicle suspended or revoked for any of the reasons set forth in subsection A or (ii) a person who he knows has no operator's license and who he knows has been previously convicted of driving a motor vehicle without an operator's license in violation of § 46.2-300 or a substantially similar ordinance of any county, city, or town or law in any other jurisdiction shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor."

References: § 46
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 § 391
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 § 19
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