Suspended License Attorney on Long Island

Defense for Unlicensed Operation in All of the Towns and Villages Within Suffolk and Nassau Counties

A suspended license can disrupt your entire life, affecting your ability to work, care for your family, and maintain your independence. While many drivers associate suspensions only with criminal charges, New York State can suspend or revoke driving privileges for a wide variety of administrative reasons. 

All County Traffic Defense Group acknowledges that these issues are often the result of complex bureaucratic systems rather than intentional wrongdoing. We are dedicated to helping drivers identify the root cause of their suspension and working towards a resolution that allows them to return to the road legally.

Led by Principal Attorney Zan Sheikh, our firm adopts an education-first philosophy. We believe that when clients understand the specific reason for their suspension, whether it is an insurance lapse, an unpaid assessment, or point accumulation, they are better equipped to resolve it. We offer a "down-to-earth" and relatable approach to legal defense, removing the intimidation often associated with the legal process.

We are proud to serve a diverse community. If you speak English, Urdu, Hindi, or Punjabi, we can communicate the complexities of New York traffic law in the language with which you are most comfortable.

Need help from a suspended license attorney in New York City, Long Island, Rockland County, or Westchester County? Call All County Traffic Defense Group at (516) 440-2348 or contact us online to get started today.

Common Reasons for License Suspension in New York

A driver’s license can be suspended for reasons that go far beyond traffic tickets. Understanding why your license is suspended is the first step toward resolving the issue. 

Common suspension triggers include:

• Insurance lapses. In New York, maintaining continuous insurance coverage is mandatory. If your insurance is canceled, even for a short period, the DMV may issue a suspension.
• Unpaid traffic tickets (scofflaws). Ignoring a ticket does not make it disappear. Failure to answer a ticket or pay a fine often results in an indefinite suspension until the matter is cleared.
• Point accumulation. Accumulating 11 or more points on your driving record within 18 months can lead to a suspension.
• Failure to pay driver responsibility assessments (DRA). If you owe a DRA fee to Albany and fail to pay it, your license will be suspended, regardless of your other driving history.
• DWI and drug-related offenses. Charges related to driving while intoxicated or impaired often carry immediate “pending prosecution” suspensions or post-conviction revocations.
• Non-driving related issues. New York State may suspend licenses for reasons unrelated to driving, such as failure to pay child support or state taxes.

Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (AUO): The Criminal Charge

Driving with a suspended license for any of the reasons listed above can result in an Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (AUO) charge, transforming an administrative issue into a criminal matter.

AUO charges break down like this: 

• AUO 3rd degree. A misdemeanor charged when a driver operates a vehicle while knowing, or having reason to know, that their license is suspended.
• AUO 2nd degree. A more serious charge that applies if the driver has a prior AUO conviction within the last 18 months or if the suspension is based on a DWI-related offense. This level carries mandatory fines and potential jail time.
• AUO 1st degree. A felony charge, typically brought when a driver operates a vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol while holding a conditional or suspended license, or has 10 or more suspension dates on record.