Overview of License Violation Penalties

The most common license violations include failing to possess a valid driver’s license; driving with an expired license; driving on a revoked or suspended license; failing to notify the department of public safety or bureau of motor vehicles of a change of name or address; and operating a motor vehicle in violation of a restriction or an endorsement imposed on your license. Generally license violation offenses are considered misdemeanors. The motorist is usually required to pay a fine if the motorist commits a license violation.

However, in some situations, the penalties for license violations can be much more severe and can include jail time. Jail time is most frequently imposed where the motorist has had multiple convictions for driver’s license violations. In addition, a motorist is subject to custodial arrest if the motorist is found to be driving without a valid driver’s license.

For the offense of driving without a valid driver’s license, if the motorist can produce to the court a valid driver’s license that was in effect on the date of the offense, many states will dismiss the charge. However, even if the charge is dismissed, many states require the motorist to pay a small administrative fee. For example, in Florida, a motorist must pay a five-dollar fee to have a charge dismissed after showing the court a valid driver’s license.

Driving on a revoked or suspended license is a misdemeanor in most states. The penalties generally range from fines to sentences of up to one year in jail. However, in certain circumstances, often where the person’s license was suspended or revoked due to a conviction for driving under the influence of intoxicants, the offense will be considered a felony and the penalties imposed are much more severe.

Copyright 2014 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.