Hi everyone, I’m dealing with a 5-year license suspension in Florida because of unpaid tolls. I didn’t realize my license was suspended at first and got caught driving a few times, which made things worse. Now I’m stuck without a license until July 2025. I currently have restricted privileges to drive for work, church, and doctor visits, but I moved to Ohio, so it’s been tough. Does anyone know if there’s a way to petition for an earlier reinstatement? Any advice on how to go about this would be awesome!
You could try filing a petition with the Florida court that issued the suspension. It’s the first step to request reinstatement.
Sky said:
You could try filing a petition with the Florida court that issued the suspension. It’s the first step to request reinstatement.
How do I file a petition if I’m in Ohio now? Can it be done online?
Sky said:
You could try filing a petition with the Florida court that issued the suspension. It’s the first step to request reinstatement.
You’d need to contact the clerk of court in Florida to ask about e-filing. Some counties allow it, so it’s worth checking.
Since you already have restricted driving privileges, a judge might be open to granting full reinstatement, especially if it’s just toll violations.
Jordan said:
Since you already have restricted driving privileges, a judge might be open to granting full reinstatement, especially if it’s just toll violations.
That’s good to hear. Do judges usually take driving history into account for something like this?
Jordan said:
Since you already have restricted driving privileges, a judge might be open to granting full reinstatement, especially if it’s just toll violations.
Yes, if your driving didn’t involve reckless behavior or endangering others, it could help your case.
Have you considered hiring a Florida attorney? They can handle the process for you and increase your chances of success.
Stevie said:
Have you considered hiring a Florida attorney? They can handle the process for you and increase your chances of success.
I thought about it, but I’m worried about the cost. Do you think it’s worth it?
Stevie said:
Have you considered hiring a Florida attorney? They can handle the process for you and increase your chances of success.
It might be, especially if the suspension is causing big issues for you. Some attorneys offer free consultations, so you can ask first.
You could also argue that your suspension was for tolls and not dangerous driving. Judges tend to be lenient in those cases.
Ellis said:
You could also argue that your suspension was for tolls and not dangerous driving. Judges tend to be lenient in those cases.
That’s true. I feel like my situation is different from someone with a DUI or reckless driving charge.
Ellis said:
You could also argue that your suspension was for tolls and not dangerous driving. Judges tend to be lenient in those cases.
Exactly. Use that to your advantage when explaining your case. It shows you weren’t a risk to others on the road.
If you don’t want to hire a lawyer, try calling the DMV or the clerk of court for guidance on what you need to file.
Alby said:
If you don’t want to hire a lawyer, try calling the DMV or the clerk of court for guidance on what you need to file.
I’ll do that. Hopefully, they can explain the process clearly since I’ll need to handle this from out of state.
Alby said:
If you don’t want to hire a lawyer, try calling the DMV or the clerk of court for guidance on what you need to file.
They should be able to help. Just be patient with the process—it might take a few calls to get everything sorted.