Driving on a suspended license is a crime, not a ticket. In Louisiana it can mean fines and jail under RS 32:415, and it often makes the underlying suspension worse. If your license is suspended, or you were caught driving on one in St. John Parish, we can help you fix it the right way.
A suspended license has a way of snowballing. It usually starts with something ordinary, an unpaid ticket or a missed court date, and turns into a charge that carries real criminal penalties. In LaPlace, both the underlying suspension and any driving-under-suspension charge run through the 40th Judicial District Court in Edgard and the St. John the Baptist Parish system. The Law Office of Heather C. Ford helps drivers untangle it and get back on the road legally.
Almost no one sets out to drive on a suspended license. It happens in stages. A ticket on Airline Highway goes unpaid because you forgot the court date or could not get across the river to Edgard. The court enters a judgment and notifies the Office of Motor Vehicles, which suspends your license. Often you do not find out until you are pulled over again, and now you are facing a criminal charge for driving under suspension on top of the original ticket, plus new fines and a longer suspension. Each step makes the next one worse. The way out is to break the cycle early rather than hope it resolves on its own.
Most suspensions trace back to a handful of causes, and several of them start with a traffic ticket that was never really resolved. The reason for your suspension controls how you fix it, so the first step is always to identify it.
| Why it happened | How to clear it |
|---|---|
| Unpaid tickets that went to judgment | Resolve or negotiate the underlying tickets, then pay the OMV reinstatement fee. |
| Failure to appear in court | Address the missed case and any warrant, then reinstate. We can handle the 40th JDC side. |
| A DWI arrest or conviction | Handle both the administrative suspension and the criminal case; interlock and SR-22 are often required. |
| No proof of insurance or a lapse | Reinstate required coverage and file SR-22 proof with the state. |
| Too many convictions over time | Clear the record issues driving the suspension and complete any required programs. |
| Nonpayment of child support | Resolve the support obligation through the proper court, then reinstate. |
Not sure why yours is suspended, or whether it is? Start by checking your license status through the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, and we can help you read what it means.
Getting caught driving on a suspended license is its own offense under Louisiana Revised Statute 32:415. A first offense can bring a fine and up to six months in jail, and the penalties climb with repeat offenses. Just as bad, a new charge can extend the suspension you were already trying to clear, which is why paying it and moving on is usually the wrong move. Here is more on the consequences of driving with a suspended license.
There are two jobs here, and we handle both. First, we deal with any driving-under-suspension charge at the 40th JDC, working to reduce or dismiss it rather than let it stack more penalties onto your record. Second, we map out the path to reinstatement.
If you need to drive to work while a suspension runs, Louisiana allows a restricted or hardship license in many situations under RS 32:415.1, sometimes with an ignition interlock. We can tell you whether you qualify and help you pursue one so your job does not become the next casualty. If your suspension came from a DWI, see whether you can get a hardship license after a DWI.
If you think your license may be suspended, do not drive on it, and do not pay a driving-under-suspension ticket assuming that makes the problem disappear. Pull your driving record, or let us pull it for you, so we know the exact cause. From there we build the plan, fight any new charge at the 40th JDC, clear the underlying issue, and get you reinstated. The sooner you start, the shorter the road back.
Call or text the Law Office of Heather C. Ford for a free consultation. Tell us what happened and we will map out the fastest legal way to get you driving again. You can also read more about suspended license defense, the St. John Parish traffic court, and our LaPlace pages on speeding tickets and CDL tickets.
Between myself and my family, we keep Heather busy! She is very professional and knowledgeable. I have spent a lot of money and ruined my driving record paying off speeding tickets but when I found Heather, I found that she is the best
My experience with the Law Office of Heather C. Ford was outstanding. I would recommend this team to anyone that has received a traffic ticket in the metro New Orleans area....
I found Heather online after searching for a traffic lawyer. Since I am not from the area, I was not 100% sure but went with my gut after reading the positive comments. And I was right! I am really pleased with Heather Ford's...
I was thrilled when Heather was able to get my ticket reduced to a non-moving violation and the judge waived fees. I never thought that was possible. I was certain I'd have to pay something. She's great...
Ms. Ford is all that I could ask for in an advocate.
My experience has been as pleasurable as can be expected when you need a lawyer.
Start with your driving record from the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles, which lists the reason and what is required to reinstate. We can help you read it and build a plan, because the reason drives everything else.
That is a criminal charge under RS 32:415, heard at the 40th JDC in Edgard. Do not just pay it, because it can extend your suspension. Contact us so we can work to reduce or dismiss the charge and get you moving toward reinstatement.
Often yes. Louisiana allows a restricted or hardship license in many cases, sometimes with an interlock. We will tell you whether you qualify and help you pursue one.
It is a certificate your insurer files proving you carry the required coverage, and Louisiana requires it for reinstatement after certain suspensions. We will tell you whether your situation calls for it.
It depends on the cause. Clearing an unpaid ticket is quicker than resolving a DWI-related suspension. Once we know the reason, we can give you a realistic timeline.
Yes. The notice goes to the address the OMV has on file, so if you moved or missed the mail, the first you hear of it may be a traffic stop. That is why it is worth checking your status even when you are not sure.
For the driving-under-suspension charge, we can usually appear at the 40th JDC on your behalf.
