I got cited for driving on an expired license

[Anonymous]

I was in a fender-bender (not at fault). Police came. Of course, I renewed it immediately that day. However I was cited for a criminal "infraction" and now need to appear before a Magistrate. I am googling and it says you can get jail time. I am so panicked. Anyone had this happen? How did you resolve it? I haven't even had a speeding ticket in a decade-plus.

[Anonymous]

You could have been hauled off to jail on the spot, OP. There was another thread recently about the same subject, and I posted to say that a European acquaintance of mine went directly to jail when the police stopped her car at a routine traffic stop and saw her license was expired. As a US citizen, they gave you the benefit of the doubt. If you show the judge your renewed license and explain it was an oversight that you will not happen again, I highly doubt you'll go to jail.

[Anonymous]

You can hire a lawyer who specializes in motor vehicle infractions; he or she can probably come to court with you. I think it's very unlikely that you will get any jail time if you fix this issue before going to court. You may see your insurance premiums go up. Just take it as a (frightening, expensive) lesson and move on.

[Anonymous]

Didn’t we just have this same exact question!

[Anonymous]

What is the difference b/w jail and prison?

[Anonymous]

How long expired was it?

With no other record and having remedied it, you're probably just going to have fines and insurance impacts. It's very different than driving with a suspended license or having never had a license.

[Anonymous]

Just to be safe hire a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the difference b/w jail and prison?

Jail is short-term, often for awaiting trial or sentencing. Usually run by a local government. Prison is where you go once you've been sentenced. Usually under state or federal administration.

[Anonymous]

Gotta love Virginia...butcyeah hire a lawyer you'll get a fine but that's probably it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Didn’t we just have this same exact question!

Yes https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/1053380.page

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. I am just incredibly terrified, mainly because, although I haven't gotten a ticket in almost 10 years, I just looked up my entire driving history (dating back 25 years), and I got three speeding tickets and in an accident in my late teens and early 20s. This is all available on my report, and I'm afraid it will be used against me.

I am so upset. I am afraid my license will be suspended or something. Or that I will get a criminal conviction and it will render me unable to do my volunteer work. I've just been through a lot lately - death of a parent, car crash -- and I am shaken.

[Anonymous]

So…you’re the OP from the other thread, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So…you’re the OP from the other thread, right?

Yes, but I couldn't find the original thread when I did a search. Maybe they could be condensed into one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can hire a lawyer who specializes in motor vehicle infractions; he or she can probably come to court with you. I think it's very unlikely that you will get any jail time if you fix this issue before going to court. You may see your insurance premiums go up. Just take it as a (frightening, expensive) lesson and move on.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

There has been at least three “am I going to prison” posts. All nonsense. Stop engaging