Legal Question in Traffic Law in Washington

Re: driving with suspended license

It depends. Driving with a suspended license third degree is a criminal traffic offense that is a misdemeanor. The potential maximum penalties are 90 days in jail and/or $1000 fine. You must plead not guilty to preserve your rights. If you can't afford a lawyer, and you qualify with a low enough income level, ask for a public defender. You need to "buy yourself time" in order to get your license reinstated ASAP! The notice you received from DOL, if you received one, will tell you what court(s) there are with unpaid tickets. If you didn't receive a notice or lost it, call DOL at 3609023900 and have your license number ready. DOL will tell you what tickets and what courts are suspending your license. You need to pay those off completely ASAP or get on a payment schedule with the court or with one of the courts' collection agencies, Signal Credit or Alliance One. The most important thing is not to plead guilty and try to get the charge reduced. Remember, you can be charged with DWLS-3 over and over until your license is reinstated. The police can run your vehicle plate for no reason whatsoever to see if you have a valid license. Contact me if you wish any more information. Good Luck!