Jacksonville Habitual Traffic Offender Lawyer

A Florida Habitual Traffic Offender is defined in the Florida Statutes. Florida Statute Section 322.264 lists the criteria for a driver to qualify as a habitual traffic offender (HTO). The Florida Department of Motor Vehicles will evaluate a person’s driving record for the past five years to make this determination. If a Jacksonville driver has a certain amount of the traffic convictions, his or her license will be suspended for five years as a Jacksonville Habitual Traffic Offender.

A Jacksonville driver must have three or more convictions, arising out of separate incidents, of the following to result in a Jacksonville HTO Suspension:

involuntary or voluntary manslaughter due to the operation of a motor vehicle;
driving under the influence (DUI);
a felony in which a motor vehicle was used to commit the crime;
driving with a license suspended or revoked (knowingly or unknowingly);
driving a commercial vehicle when such privilege has been suspended or revoked; or
failing to render aid in a crash that results in death or bodily injury.

Otherwise, a driver must have fifteen or more convictions of moving violations, as discussed in Florida Statute Section 322.27, in order for his or her license to be subject to a Jacksonville HTO Suspension.

Many people do not realize that they are a Jacksonville Habitual Traffic Offender until they receive a letter stating this from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. At that time, people think that it is too late to save their license, but this is not true. A Jacksonville Driver’s License Attorney can review the Florida Driving Record to determine whether any of the prior traffic offenses may be reopened. If so, there is a good chance that a driver’s license can be saved from suspension.