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Our government issues us a driver’s license as a privilege. Whether we like it or not, the government can take that privilege away if they deem someone unfit to drive a car. We call this designation getting your license suspended. Ok, so what are we supposed to do with someone who gets their license suspended not once, not twice, but 64 times before they turn 25 years old? New York decided to arrest her. 

1970s POLICE OFFICER pulling a guy over in an old car
Moving violation | H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images

How many times can you get your license suspended?

Apparently, you can get your license suspended 64 times. 65 is just one too many. According to NBC New York, Janelda Camille was arrested Tuesday morning in Long Island, NY, after being pulled over at 2:04 a.m. while driving with a suspended license. She was allegedly pulled over for speeding. According to the authorities, she was doing 95 mph in her 2000 Honda Accord on Sunrise Hwy on Long Island, where the speed limit is only 55 mph. 

When Camille was pulled over, she was asked to hand over her license, which she couldn’t do due to its most recent suspension. The Drive notes that the officer found out that her license had been suspended 65 times in total over 12 different dates. The Drive also states that the police records also included that Camille was involved in a crash in 2021 that led to her arrest over charges of aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle (first degree), in addition to a summons for speeding.

Can you get arrested for driving without a license? 

People Wait Outside a Department of Motor Vehicles Office
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles | Yeong-Ung Yang/Newsday via Getty Images

New York state law says, “Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (AUO) is driving while your license is under suspension or revocation. It is punishable by a fine of $200–$500, a mandatory surcharge, and possible imprisonment of up to 30 days or probation. 

The Drive reports that Camille has never shown up to a single one of her suspension hearings. Speaking on the issue, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison noted that the New York DMV doesn’t directly notify police of drivers with multiple license suspensions. “I’m just glad we were able to stop this individual before she ended up hurting somebody or hurting herself,” Harrison told NBC New York. 

Given the fact that she isn’t just a repeat offender, this has happened so many times it seems silly to even write it again; it isn’t uncommon for the state to give the accused a real jail sentence. Repeat offenders are not often looked upon kindly by the state. Prosecutors often look at cases like this as there is only one thing left to do. 

Driving laws matter

The truth is, driving is one of the most dangerous things most of us will ever do in our lifetimes. Statically, driving is not safe. According to Forbes, one of their advisors calculated one fatal car accident occurs every 15 minutes in the United States. Sadly, the number of fatal accidents is on the rise. So when there are people continuously breaking the rules, it puts all of us in danger.