Criminal Defense
Since 1993
Since 1993
Got a Florida HTO Letter? First Steps to Get Your Driver’s License Back
By: John Guidry II
I’m sorry you received that letter from the Florida DMV designating you as a “Habitual Traffic Offender” (HTO) and suspending your driver’s license for five years. It’s a devastating blow that can impact your job, your family, and your freedom.
The good news is, there are often ways to fix it. But before you do anything else, you must take a few critical first steps.
Facing a 5-Year HTO Suspension in Orlando? Don’t panic, but don’t wait. There are ways to fight it, and we can help. Call my office for a free review of your driving record. Call John Guidry: (407) 423-1117
Your Immediate 3-Step Action Plan
Before we can even begin to attack the suspension, you need to do the following immediately.
1. Gather Your Documents We cannot help you without the right paperwork. You need to obtain two things:
- The HTO Suspension Letter you received from the DMV.
- A Copy of Your FULL Lifetime Driving Record. Do not get the cheap 3 or 7-year record. You must request the complete, all-time history. Most attorneys, including my firm, will review this full record for you for free.
2. Stop Driving Immediately This may sound obvious, but it is the most important step. Driving while your license is suspended as a Habitual Traffic Offender is a third-degree felony in Florida. The letter the DMV sends you often fails to mention this critical fact. Worse yet, their letters are often so delayed that you may have been driving on an HTO suspension for weeks without even knowing it. Do not get behind the wheel again until this is resolved.
3. Call an Experienced Attorney Once you have your full driving record in hand, get on the phone. The strategy for getting an HTO suspension lifted is to find a legal reason to attack and remove one of the underlying convictions that caused the suspension. An attorney with a long history of handling these specific cases can analyze your record and find the weakness we need to exploit.
We can fix these things, but it all starts with that first call. If your HTO suspension arose out of citations in Orange or Osceola County, our office has been helping drivers in this exact situation since 1993. We would be happy to help you try to get your license back.
If you’re ready to dive a bit deeper into habitual offender suspensions here in Central Florida, watch “Do I Qualify to Have My HTO Suspension Removed?” and also my video “For Lawyers Only – Loophole to Overturn HTO License Suspension.”
About the Author, John Guidry II
John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.
Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.
Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.
When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.