A suspended driver’s license will not necessarily stop a person from flying into or out of California. The license can serve as valid proof of identification for flying. However, a suspended driver’s license does not entitle a person to drive, even if this individual flies to a destination outside their home state.
If you are facing criminal DUI charges and have concerns about flying with a suspended driver’s license, you are not alone. You can get in contact with a Los Angeles DUI attorney who can help you dispute your charges. Plus, your attorney can answer any questions regarding whether you can fly with a suspended license.
What Is a Suspended License?
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) can suspend a driver’s license. In this instance, an individual is no longer allowed to legally operate a motor vehicle until their suspension ends. The suspension length varies based on the reason why a person’s driver’s license is suspended.
Common reasons why an individual’s driver’s license can be suspended in California include:
DUI
A person convicted of a DUI can have their license suspended for up to six months. By hiring a Los Angeles DUI lawyer, an individual can contest a DUI allegation. A DUI lawyer in Los Angeles can help the defendant in a criminal case create a legal strategy that gets their charge reduced or dismissed.
Underage Drinking
An individual under the age of 21 found intoxicated while driving can have their license revoked on the spot. In this instance, the intoxicated driver has their license suspended for at least one year or until age 18, whichever is later. A DUI attorney in Los Angeles can offer legal tips and recommendations to help a person contest an underage DUI criminal charge.
Refusal to Take a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Test
A person may get pulled over while intoxicated and refuse to take a BAC test. If this happens, a police officer can have the driver’s license revoked, even if this individual is innocent. At this point, it can be beneficial to hire a Los Angeles DUI attorney to dispute any criminal charges.
It is paramount to do everything possible to maintain a valid license. If a license is suspended, it can take months or years before an individual gets it back. Fortunately, this individual can use their suspended license or another form of ID for air travel.
Outside of a Suspended License, What Forms of ID Can Be Used for Air Travel?
A driver’s license is one of many valid forms of ID for air travel. In addition to a driver’s license, TSA lets people use the following forms of ID for traveling in and out of an airport:
- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
- Department of Homeland Security (DHS) trusted traveler cards
- U.S. Department of Defense ID
- Permanent resident card
- Border crossing card
- An acceptable photo ID issued by a federally recognized tribal nation or Indian tribe
- HSPD-12 PIV card
- Foreign government-issued passport
- Canadian provincial driver’s license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card Transportation worker identification credential
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
- U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential
- Veteran Health Identification Card
A driver’s license or state-issued ID that expired on or after March 1, 2020, is still an acceptable form of identification at airports. TSA will accept expired driver’s licenses or state-issued ID as ID at airports for up to one year after expiration. DHS also has a REAL ID enforcement deadline in place for May 3, 2023.
What Should I Do to Get My Suspended License Reinstated?
There are several steps people in California who want to get their suspended license reinstated may need to complete. These include:
- Serve the full suspension. Once the suspension period is complete, an individual can request to have their license reinstated.
- Pay for reinstatement. The cost to reinstate a suspended license is $55 but may be higher depending on the offense.
- Complete traffic school. An individual may need to provide proof of successful completion of traffic school to get their license reinstated.
California’s RMV can provide extra help with license reinstatement. It can provide those interested in getting a suspended license reinstated with any forms that need to be completed. In addition, the RMV can answer any questions a person has about license reinstatement in California.
How Can I Get a Suspended License Reinstated After a DUI?
California has a process in place to reinstate a suspended license following a DUI conviction. This process consists of the following steps:
- Complete the suspension. A person convicted of a DUI in California cannot get their license reinstated until their suspension period ends.
- Serve a jail or prison sentence. If a person is convicted of a DUI and sentenced to time in jail or prison, this individual must be able to provide documentation to verify that this time was served.
- Go to traffic school. Traffic school is a requirement for getting a license reinstated, and it can take anywhere from three to 30 months.
- Fulfill any other sentencing conditions. Review the license sentencing order carefully to make sure all conditions are fulfilled; otherwise, a person is ineligible to get their license.
- Get car insurance. A person must provide an SR-22 form that confirms this individual has car insurance in place.
- Submit an application for reinstatement. An individual must formally apply for reinstatement.
It can be difficult to get a license reinstated after a DUI. Yet, an individual may be able to contest a DUI charge before it leads to a license suspension. To do so, a person can hire a DUI attorney.
Will a DUI Charge that Leads to a Suspended License Affect My Ability to Fly?
A DUI charge in Los Angeles can lead to a suspended license and other legal ramifications. In the worst-case scenario, the charge can result in jail or prison time. This can prevent a person from leaving the state.
By partnering with a Los Angeles DUI attorney, a person can dispute a charge that could lead to a license suspension. The lawyer can learn about this individual’s charge. From here, the attorney can dispute the charge on the client’s behalf.
If you want to hire a Los Angeles DUI attorney, we can help. We offer convenient access to a DUI attorney in Los Angeles. For more information, contact us today.
