Mr. P
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Driving without license penalty becomes more severe
Individuals who find themselves in Rockdale County Superior Court on the misdemeanor charge of driving without a license will now likely face spending 12 months in the county jail.
Chief Superior Court Judge Sidney Nation said the court is seeing an increase in cases in which the defendant has been caught driving without a license and previous sentences involving probation or fines dont seem to be serving as a deterrent.
The court sees this charge almost every day, and nothing seems to be happening to these people, Nation said. Every case will be examined on its own merit, but Im giving fair warning to everyone that if you come to this court charged with driving without a license, there is the serious possibility you will go to jail for 12 months.
While misdemeanors are not normally addressed in Superior Court, the driving without a license charge is often one that is included with felony violations such as those involving drug arrests that start as traffic stops.
Nation also said in cases involving illegal residents charged with driving without a license, probation was not appropriate because it calls for individuals to adhere to the requirements of the justice system when they should not be in the country.
I think this could be considered an aggravating circumstance with regards to sentencing, Nation said. Probation is not justified because thats like the court instructing them to remain in the country illegally.
A misdemeanor can call for up to 12 months incarceration and a $1,000 fine, which the court can order served consecutive to any jail time.
Individuals who find themselves in Rockdale County Superior Court on the misdemeanor charge of driving without a license will now likely face spending 12 months in the county jail.
Chief Superior Court Judge Sidney Nation said the court is seeing an increase in cases in which the defendant has been caught driving without a license and previous sentences involving probation or fines dont seem to be serving as a deterrent.
The court sees this charge almost every day, and nothing seems to be happening to these people, Nation said. Every case will be examined on its own merit, but Im giving fair warning to everyone that if you come to this court charged with driving without a license, there is the serious possibility you will go to jail for 12 months.
While misdemeanors are not normally addressed in Superior Court, the driving without a license charge is often one that is included with felony violations such as those involving drug arrests that start as traffic stops.
Nation also said in cases involving illegal residents charged with driving without a license, probation was not appropriate because it calls for individuals to adhere to the requirements of the justice system when they should not be in the country.
I think this could be considered an aggravating circumstance with regards to sentencing, Nation said. Probation is not justified because thats like the court instructing them to remain in the country illegally.
A misdemeanor can call for up to 12 months incarceration and a $1,000 fine, which the court can order served consecutive to any jail time.
