In Florida, a habitual traffic offender is someone who has received a certain number of convictions within a five-year period.  Receiving this designation can result in significant consequences.  As a criminal defense attorney in Broward County, the first step to avoid this label is to understand what causes someone to receive this label.  The second step is to contact a criminal defense attorney in Broward County who is knowledgeable about these types of cases.

A habitual traffic offender is someone who has three or more convictions of any of the following or combination of the following offenses:

• Voluntary manslaughter due to the operation of a motor vehicle
• Involuntary manslaughter due to the operation of a motor vehicle
• DUI
• Driving on a suspended or revoked license
• Failing to render aid in a motor vehicle crash that results in the death or injury of another
• Any felony conviction involving a motor vehicle

A person can also be considered a habitual offender if he or she has received 15 or more convictions from moving violations.  It is important that individuals who receive a serious traffic citation or the latest of several recent citations reach out to an attorney experienced in assisting clients facing habitual traffic offender charges.  He or she may be able to provide a valid defense to the latest traffic problem in order to avoid this status.  For example, the defense lawyer may be able to argue that the defendant was not driving or was not in physical control of the vehicle in order to avoid a moving violation.  Other defenses may apply, based on the individual facts and circumstances involved in the case.