A man who is charged with vehicular manslaughter apparently had a suspended license at the time of the collision.

Police state that, in September 2013, 23-year-old Kaman Hobbs collided with a motorcycle while attempting to turn left on Greenback Lane near the Negro Bar State Park. The force of the collision threw the rider into a nearby van; the rider was killed instantly. Mr. Hobbs, whose license had been suspended following a DUI conviction, was arrested at the scene for vehicular manslaughter, violating his probation and driving with a suspended license.

Mr. Hobbs expressed remorse over the incident, and admitted that he had made "a bad choice."

Prosecutors normally take driving on a suspended license cases very seriously. The rationale is that if your license was suspended, it was probably because you are a bad driver who is more likely to cause an accident like the one Mr. Hobbs was in. But driving on a suspended license can occur for a number of reasons that do not necessarily make someone a bad driver.

VC Section 14601 provides very stiff penalties for driving with a suspended license. A first offense is punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Subsequent offenses carry a higher punishment and mandatory jail time, even if the driver receives probation. In addition, a driver may be required to install an ignition interlock device for three years if the original suspension was related to a DUI. A restricted license may be available during the period of suspension in some circumstances.

The state may attempt to suspend your drivers' license for a number of reasons, including:

Before the state suspends your license, the state must give you notice of the suspension and an opportunity to request a hearing. An experienced traffic ticket attorney in Kern County can represent you at the DMV hearing, and either negotiate with the prosecutor to reduce the period of suspension or fight the suspension before an administrative hearing officer.