Florida drivers who have 3 or more criminal driving convictions or received 15 moving violations within a five-year period can be labeled a Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO). This can lead to a loss of your driver’s license for five years.
There are ways to prevent yourself from being labeled a habitual traffic offender, however.
How To Avoid Becoming A Habitual Traffic Offender
- Avoid Points and Convictions. If you’re on your way to becoming a habitual traffic offender, it’s time to change your driving habits. By avoiding tickets and traffic violations, you’ll avoid getting points on your driving record or being convicted of driving violations.
- Check Your License Status. It’s up to you to make sure your Florida driver’s license is valid. The state will not inform you if you’ve racked up violations. Pay particular attention to any Driving While License Suspended violations. These are the quickest way to earning a Habitual Traffic Offender title, even if you pay the ticket. You need to keep tabs on your license yourself so you can know if your license is about to be suspended and take actions to avoid that suspension.
- Explore Your Options. Even if you are convicted of a driving violation, you should explore your options. Some tickets/convictions can be reduced or thrown out and struck from your record. If you receive a letter from the state that your license will be suspended, that is the time to contact a traffic law attorney in Florida.
Legal Advice Is The Surest Way To Protect Your Driving Record
Just as there are many ways a driver can be labeled a habitual traffic offender in Orlando and Osceola County, there are many ways a traffic law attorney can fight those charges. Anytime you receive a traffic citation – whether it is a civil citation or a criminal citation – you should contact an attorney at the Skubiak & Rivas Traffic Law Firm in Orlando. You usually have up to two years to fight a conviction; doing so can reduce the number of violations on your record and save your license from suspension.
If you have received a letter from the state informing you that your license will be suspended or if you are worried about past convictions, contact a traffic attorney in Orlando at Skubiak & Rivas, P.A. at 407-894-4449 for a free consultation.