Starting July 1, Florida drivers who operate a vehicle without a valid license may face more severe consequences under a new state law. House Bill 35, which takes effect on that date, adds driving without a valid license to the list of offenses that count toward habitual traffic offender status under Florida Statute § 322.264. This change means that a driver who accumulates a certain number of qualifying offenses within five years can have their driving privileges revoked for five years.
The new law targets a common but previously minor offense: driving on an expired or improperly renewed license. Previously, such violations did not count toward habitual traffic offender status, but now they do. This shift could have significant implications for many Florida drivers who may have treated these infractions as minor traffic tickets. Under the new law, these offenses can accumulate and push a driver toward revocation.
The impact of a revocation extends beyond the five-year suspension. It can deprive a person of the ability to commute to work, and driving after a revocation is a felony, not just a traffic violation. Additionally, the new offense can exacerbate suspensions from other cases, including those arising from a DUI charge. Because these offenses build on a driver's record, a Tampa traffic violations lawyer can challenge the individual offenses behind a revocation and work to keep a driver below the threshold that triggers one.
Drivers who already have offenses on their record are most at risk, and resolving any open cases before July 1 is advisable. StechLaw Criminal Defense, a Tampa criminal defense firm, encourages Florida drivers to understand the changes brought by House Bill 35. The firm, led by Ben Stechschulte, a board-certified criminal trial lawyer and former prosecutor, handles misdemeanor and felony cases in both Florida state and federal courts, including DUI defense, drug charges, domestic violence, theft crimes, white collar offenses, and juvenile defense. Attorney Stechschulte is one of fewer than 2% of Florida attorneys to hold board certification in criminal trial law.
For more information on how House Bill 35 may affect you, consult a legal professional. The full text of the law can be found at Florida Statute § 322.264.
