Driving is not a right, it is a privilege. In Nassau County and throughout New York State, the court system takes the offense of driving with a suspended license seriously.
When your license gets taken, you cannot drive until you fulfill specific requirements designated by the court. These may include paying fines or taking a driving class, or a combination of these and other requirements. What happens if you get nabbed driving after your license gets seized?
What is AUO?
Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (AUO) means you got caught driving on a suspended or revoked license. The severity of the punishment depends on:
1. How many times you got caught driving on a seized license; and
2. The reason behind the suspension or revocation
AUO may eventually lead to a loss of your driving privileges.
What classifications of AUO exist?
AUO gets broken down into the following tiers:
3rd-degree AUO: If convicted of this misdemeanor, you must pay a $200 to $500 fine, depending on the court’s determination. You may also receive up to 30 days in prison or get put on probation for a time.
2nd-degree AUO: Conviction of this misdemeanor means you got caught driving on a suspended or revoked license and had already received a conviction of 3rd-degree AUO in the previous 18 months. The penalty for this is mandatory jail time up to 180 days or probation and a mandatory $500 court fine. Enhancements under this conviction related to the original driver’s license loss may send jail time and fees soaring.
1st-degree AUO: This is a felony, and conviction will land you in jail for a mandatory four-year sentence. It will also cost you a required fee of $500 to $1,000. It may even cost you the vehicle you drove when caught. Other factors will add jail time and fines.
If you get caught driving with a suspended or revoked license, you may wind up in bigger legal trouble. The best thing to do is to remain calm and contact a professional to help.