No one wants to deal with a suspended license. It really puts a crimp in your style. Daily life becomes a much bigger chore without your driving privileges. And if you are like most people, it is not something to take lightly.
Many people rely on their vehicles to get to work, and there is not much margin for error. Losing your wheels can be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Getting your suspended license back is probably your top priority.
Any brush with the law can be intimidating. If you are dealing with legal issues that have you or a loved one behind bars, reach out to Gibson Bail Bonds. Our agents can help you post bail and get home again quickly.
Do You Know If Your License Is Valid?
One of the first problems in handling a suspended license is that you may not even know about the suspension. Surprise! It seems like an unlikely situation, but it actually is relatively common.
There are obvious circumstances when you would know about a suspended license. For example, if you get a DUI or another drug offense conviction, it’s pretty clear. But many other events can trigger a suspension without you realizing it:
- A Lapse In Insurance – It could be that your payment didn’t make it to the insurance agent. Or maybe a notice was lost in the mail.
- School Truancy – Drivers who are still in high school can lose driving privileges due to poor attendance.
- Failing to Show Up at Court – You could get a photo speeding ticket that goes to the wrong address. If you miss a court date, the legal system can suspend your license.
- Delinquency in Child Support Payments – People who fall behind on court-ordered child support may end up with a suspended license.
If it seems impossible that you could have a suspended license without knowing it, consider this scenario. You move to a 
new apartment and forget to inform the DMV. On your way to work one day, you run a red light, and the camera snaps a lovely photo.
The state or city then issues you a ticket by mail to your old address, and you never receive it. A few months later, you get in a fender-bender and find out you have a suspended license. Situations like this happen more often than you might think.
If you want to verify the status of your license, reach out to your local DMV and be sure your address is up-to-date in their system. If you tend to move a lot, keeping your address updated with the DMV is critical.
How to Get a Suspended License Back
To get your driving privileges reinstated, you likely will need to do some or all of the following:
- Find out why the suspension happened. Do you have old traffic fines to pay? Are you behind on child support? Do you need to buy car insurance? Sometimes you can reinstate your license simply by paying the delinquent amounts.
- Comply with the terms of the suspension. In drug or DUI offenses, there is often court-mandated treatment or education. In some instances, the suspension simply means you cannot drive for a specified time. Be sure to do whatever the terms require.
- Take a defensive driving course. Some courts place this requirement on drivers before they can get their driving privileges reinstated.
- Stay out of further trouble. If you face additional legal problems during your suspension, it could be much more challenging to get your license back.
- Check with the DMV on their requirements. There may be fees and paperwork you need to bring in to get your license back.
Trust the Gibson Bail Bonds Team
If your traffic woes end up with you sitting in jail, the Gibson Bail Bonds crew can help. Reach out to an agent any time so that you can get back home as soon as possible.
