Driving while your license is suspended or revoked is a serious offense. The fines can be steep and the jail time long. Driving on a revoked license is a decision no one should make, but it does occur quite often.
So, as for the charges of this offense, as with other crimes, they begin fairly simple. With a person “unknowingly” driving while their license is revoked is guilty of a moving violation, punishable with $153.00 and 3 points added to your record. But then the penalties become serious.
A person who knowingly drives while their license is suspended or revoked is punishable as follows:
The Charges
For the first offense – guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree
-Up to a $500 fine plus court costs
-Up to 60 days imprisonment
Second conviction is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree
-Up to a $1000 fine, plus court costs
-Up to 1-year imprisonment
Third or following convictions is guilty of a felony of the third degree
-Up to a $5000 fine, plus court costs
-Up to 5 years imprisonment
A person who is labeled as a “Habitual Traffic Offender” that drives while their license is revoked (failed to obtain hardship or restricted license) will be guilty of a third degree felony.
-Up to 5 years imprisonment
-Up to $5000 fine, plus court costs
Any person whose license or driving privilege has been permanently revoked will be convicted of a third degree felony.
-Up to 5 years imprisonment
-Up to $5000 fine, plus court costs
Notwithstanding further charges for the death or injury, any person who drives a vehicle while his or her driver’s license is revoked and by careless or negligent operation of the vehicle causes the death of or serious bodily injury to another human being is:
-Guilty of a felony of the third degree
-Up to $5000 fine
A person whose driver’s license has been revoked and who operates a commercial motor vehicle while his or her license is revoked will be convicted of a first degree misdemeanor
-Up to $1000 fine
-Up to 1-year imprisonment
The second and subsequent convictions will be third degree felonies
-Up to $5000
-Up to 5 years imprisonment
If the officer determines the person’s driver’s license has remained suspended or revoked since a conviction for the offense of driving with a suspended or revoked license due to insurance or habitual traffic offender reasons, the officer shall immediately immobilize the vehicle for impound.
Instead of paying a fine or appearing in court, a person can elect to enter a plea of nolo contendere and provide proof of compliance to the clerk of the court, designated official or authorized operator of a traffic violations bureau. In such case, adjudication shall be withheld. However, this option cannot be elected if already done so in the past 12 months. Also, this option cannot be chosen more than three times.
So choose wisely, understanding the risks associated with visiting that friend, going to that game or heading to the beach on a revoked or suspended license.