Driving on a Suspended License: Penalties by State (2026)
How each state handles driving on a suspended license and the penalties, from each state's code.
| State | Driving on a suspended license |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Driving while your license or driving privilege is cancelled, denied, suspended or revoked is a misdemeanor: a fine of $100 to $500 and up to 180 days in jail, plus a $50 additional penalty, and the state may revoke the license for 6 more months. If the license is revoked for any reason, or suspended because of a DUI or an implied-consent (breath test) refusal, officers must remove the driver and impound the vehicle on the spot, with limited exceptions. The statute sets the same penalty range for first and repeat offenses. Ala. Code 1975 § 32-6-19 |
| Alaska | Driving while your license or privilege to drive is cancelled, suspended or revoked for one of the reasons in AS 28.15.181 or 28.15.182 (such as DUI-related or other criminal offenses) is a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $25,000), with a mandatory minimum of 10 days in jail, suspended in full for a first conviction but served on a repeat conviction. Driving while suspended or revoked for other reasons, or in violation of a license limitation, is an infraction for a first offense and a class A misdemeanor if the person has a prior conviction within 10 years. It is a defense if the suspension was for lack of insurance after a crash and the driver proves the insurance was in effect at the time. AS 28.15.291; AS 12.55.135(a), 12.55.035(b) |
| Arizona | Driving on a public highway while your driving privilege is suspended, revoked, canceled or refused, or while disqualified, is a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail and a $2,500 fine). The portion of the statute read sets no separate penalty for repeat offenses. A.R.S. § 28-3473(A); A.R.S. §§ 13-702(D), 13-707 |
| Arkansas | Driving on an Arkansas highway while your license or driving privilege is cancelled, suspended or revoked is a misdemeanor with mandatory jail of at least 2 days and up to 6 months, and a fine of up to $500; the state then extends a suspension by an equal period, or adds one year to a revocation before a new license may be issued. Driving while suspended or revoked for DWI (under the DWI subchapter) is an unclassified misdemeanor with mandatory jail of 10 to 90 days and a fine of up to $1,000. The statutes read set the same penalties for first and repeat offenses. Ark. Code §§ 27-16-303, 5-65-105 |
| California | Knowingly driving while your license is suspended or revoked for reckless or negligent driving or for being unfit to drive is a misdemeanor: 5 days to 6 months in county jail plus a $300 to $1,000 fine for a first conviction, and 10 days to 1 year plus $500 to $2,000 for a repeat within 5 years. When the suspension is for any other reason, a first conviction brings up to 6 months in jail and/or a $300 to $1,000 fine, and a repeat within 5 years brings 5 days to 1 year plus $500 to $2,000; that lesser offense may also be charged as an infraction. When the suspension or revocation was for DUI or a related reason, a first conviction requires 10 days to 6 months in jail and a $300 to $1,000 fine, and a repeat within 5 years 30 days to 1 year, with extra penalties for habitual traffic offenders. Knowledge is presumed once the DMV has mailed notice. Cal. Veh. Code 14601, 14601.1, 14601.2(d); Cal. Penal Code 19.8 |
| Colorado | Knowingly driving while your license is suspended, revoked or denied for a reason other than a DUI, DWAI or similar alcohol offense (or for an outstanding judgment) is a class A traffic infraction with a $100 penalty and $15 surcharge; a second conviction within 5 years makes the driver ineligible for a license for 3 years. Driving while restrained because of a DUI, DWAI, underage drinking-and-driving conviction or an alcohol-related revocation is a class 2 misdemeanor traffic offense (10 to 90 days in jail and/or a $150 to $300 fine); a second or later conviction carries a $500 to $3,000 fine and, within 5 years, a 4-year license ineligibility. The state also adds one year before a new license can be issued. C.R.S. §§ 42-2-138(1), (1.5), (3), 42-4-1701(3)(a)(II), (4)(a)(I)(A) |
| Connecticut | Driving while your license is suspended or revoked is punished, for a first offense, by a $150 to $200 fine, up to 3 months in jail, or both; a later offense brings a $200 to $600 fine, up to 1 year, or both, plus extra penalties for repeat unlicensed or suspended driving (a fine up to $500 or community service after one prior, and a one-year sentence with 90 days mandatory after two or more priors). If the suspension was for drunk driving or a related offense, a first violation carries a $500 to $1,000 fine and up to 1 year in jail with 30 days mandatory; a second, up to 2 years with 120 days mandatory, and harsher terms follow for third offenses. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-215 |
| Delaware | Driving while your license is suspended or revoked carries, for a first offense, a $500 to $1,000 fine and 30 days to 6 months in jail; a later offense within 3 years brings a $1,000 to $4,000 fine and 60 days to 1 year in jail. If the suspension or revocation was for drunk driving or a crime involving injury or death, the minimum fine is $2,000 and the minimum fine and jail time cannot be suspended. The court may also impound the vehicle or take its plates (at least 90 days for a first violation, 1 year for later ones). If the only reason for suspension was an unpaid traffic fine, the lower unlicensed-driving penalties apply instead. 21 Del. C. § 2756 |
| District of Columbia | Driving while your D.C. license or driving privilege is suspended or revoked is punishable for each offense by up to 1 year in jail, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. The section does not set separate penalties for repeat offenses. D.C. Code §§ 50-1403.01(e), 22-3571.01 |
| Florida | Driving while your license is suspended, revoked or canceled without knowing it is a noncriminal moving violation. Knowingly driving while suspended or revoked is a second-degree misdemeanor (up to 60 days) for a first conviction and a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 1 year) for a second; a third or later conviction requires at least 10 days in jail, and it becomes a third-degree felony (up to 5 years) if the suspension was for DUI, refusing a breath test, a fatal or serious-injury crash, or fleeing police. Habitual traffic offenders who drive commit a third-degree felony, and an unlicensed or suspended driver who carelessly causes death or serious injury commits a third-degree felony. Fla. Stat. § 322.34; Fla. Stat. §§ 775.082, 775.083 |
| Georgia | Driving while your license is suspended, disqualified or revoked (or without a required license) is a misdemeanor with 2 days to 12 months in jail and a $500 to $1,000 fine for a first conviction in five years. A second or third conviction within five years is a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature with 10 days to 12 months and $1,000 to $2,500. A fourth or later conviction within five years is a felony with 1 to 5 years and $2,500 to $5,000. A conviction also brings an additional six-month suspension, and only one no-contest plea is allowed in five years. O.C.G.A. § 40-5-121 |
| Hawaii | Driving while your license is canceled, suspended or revoked carries a fine of up to $1,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both for a first offense; a second offense within five years brings a $500 to $1,000 fine, up to 1 year in jail, or both; and a third within five years is a Class C felony with possible vehicle forfeiture. If the license was revoked for impaired driving (OVUII), the penalties are mandatory: 3 to 30 days in jail, a $250 to $1,000 fine and an added one-year revocation for a first offense; 30 days, $1,000 and an added two years for a second within ten years; and 6 months to 1 year, $2,000 and permanent revocation for a third. Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 286-132, 286-136, 291E-62 |
| Idaho | Driving with knowledge (or legal notice) that one's license or driving privileges are suspended, revoked or disqualified in Idaho or elsewhere is a misdemeanor (general penalty up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine). It is only an infraction with a $150 fine when the suspension was for an underage alcohol violation, unpaid child support, or failure to carry insurance or show financial responsibility. Penalties are in addition to any DUI penalties if the person was also driving under the influence, and restricted privileges require proof of insurance. Idaho Code § 18-8001; § 18-113 |
| Illinois | Driving while your license, permit or driving privilege is suspended or revoked is a Class A misdemeanor (less than one year in jail and up to $2,500). A second conviction requires at least 100 hours of community service, and a third or later conviction at least 30 days in jail or 300 hours of community service. It becomes a Class 4 felony (1 to 3 years) in listed cases, including a repeat violation that causes a crash with injury or death, driving while revoked for reckless homicide or a fatal aggravated DUI, and second or third violations where the suspension was for DUI or leaving the scene of an injury crash. If the suspension was for DUI, a statutory summary suspension or leaving the scene, the court must impose at least 10 days in jail or 30 days of community service, and the Secretary of State extends the suspension or delays a new license. 625 ILCS 5/6-303(a), (a-3), (a-5), (b-1), (b-2), (c), (c-1), (d), (d-1), (d-2); 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-45, -55 |
| Indiana | Driving while your license or driving privileges are suspended or revoked is a Class A infraction (judgment up to $10,000), not a crime, in the ordinary case. It is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $5,000) if you knew of the suspension and had a prior judgment for driving while suspended within 10 years, or if you knew of it and the suspension came from a criminal conviction. A knowing violation where the suspension stemmed from a conviction becomes a Level 6 felony if it causes bodily injury and a Level 5 felony if it causes death or catastrophic injury. IC 9-24-19-1, 9-24-19-2, 9-24-19-3; IC 34-28-5-4(a); IC 35-50-2-6, -7; IC 35-50-3-2 |
| Iowa | Driving while one's license is suspended, revoked, denied or canceled is a simple misdemeanor with a mandatory fine of $250 to $1,500 that cannot be suspended, and the DOT extends the suspension or revocation by a like period or one year, whichever is shorter. Driving while the license is suspended or revoked for an OWI (drunk driving) violation is a serious misdemeanor with a mandatory $1,000 fine, and the suspension is extended by a like period. Driving a commercial vehicle while disqualified is a serious misdemeanor. Iowa Code §§ 321.218, 321J.21 |
| Kansas | Driving while one's license is canceled, suspended or revoked is a class B nonperson misdemeanor on a first conviction and a class A nonperson misdemeanor on a second or later, with a fine of at least $100. Unless the suspension was only for failing to pay traffic fines or appear, the person must serve at least five days in jail; if the suspension was for DUI or test refusal and the person also drives under the influence, at least 90 days. A third conviction tied to a test refusal, lack of insurance, vehicular homicide or similar suspension carries at least 90 days and a $1,500 fine. The state extends the suspension by 90 days. K.S.A. 8-262 |
| Kentucky | Driving while one's license is denied, canceled, suspended or revoked is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 90 days and $250). If the license was suspended for DUI and the person drives without an ignition-interlock or hardship license, it is a Class B misdemeanor with an extra six-month suspension for a first offense in ten years, a Class A misdemeanor with a one-year suspension for a second, and a Class D felony (1-5 years) with a two-year suspension for a third; each step is higher if the person was also driving under the influence at the time. Showing the court a license that was valid on the date of the charge is a defense. KRS 186.620(2), (4); KRS 186.990(3); KRS 189A.090 |
| Louisiana | Driving while one's license is suspended, revoked or canceled is a misdemeanor. A driver with a Class D or E (ordinary) license may be fined up to $500, jailed up to 6 months, or both, plus a civil penalty of up to $1,250; for commercial (Class A, B or C) license holders the fine is up to $5,000 and the civil penalty up to $2,500. If the driving happened during conduct that led to a second or later DWI conviction, the penalty is $300-$500 and 7 days to 6 months, with 7 days served consecutively. Any new motor-vehicle conviction during the suspension extends the suspension by one year, and the court may require an ignition interlock in DWI-related cases. La. R.S. 32:415 |
| Maine | Driving on a public way when one's license is suspended or revoked, after notice of the suspension, is generally a Class E crime (up to 6 months) and is a strict-liability offense. When the suspension was for OUI, there are mandatory minimums that may not be suspended: at least a $600 fine, 7 consecutive days in jail and an extra 1-3 years of suspension for a first offense, with higher minimums (starting at $1,000 and 30 days) for repeat offenses within 10 years. If the only reason for the suspension was an unpaid fine or fee, a dishonored check, failure to show proof of insurance, or unpaid child support, it is a traffic infraction instead. 29-A M.R.S. § 2412-A(1-A), (3), (8) |
| Maryland | Driving while one's license or privilege is suspended, revoked, canceled or refused is punishable for a first offense by up to 1 year and/or a $1,000 fine, and for a second or later offense within 3 years by up to 2 years and/or $1,000, plus license points. If the suspension was only for administrative reasons such as failing to attend a driver improvement program, failing to appear or failing to pay a traffic fine (in Maryland or another state), the maximum is a $500 fine, but the person must appear in court and may not prepay. Md. Code, Transp. § 16-303 |
| Massachusetts | Driving after one's license has been suspended or revoked is punished, for a person with no prior such offense, by a fine of not more than $500 (this lower first-offense rule does not apply when the suspension was for OUI or certain other serious offenses). Otherwise the statute sets a fine of $500 to $1,000 and/or up to 10 days for a first offense, and 60 days to 1 year for a subsequent offense. Driving after revocation as a habitual traffic offender carries a fine of $500 to $5,000 and/or up to 2 years. G.L. c. 90, § 23 |
| Michigan | Driving while one's license is suspended, revoked or denied is a misdemeanor punishable for a first violation by up to 93 days and/or a $500 fine, and for a second or later violation by up to 1 year and/or $1,000. If the driving causes another person's death it is a felony with up to 15 years and/or a $2,500-$10,000 fine; if it causes serious impairment of a body function, a felony with up to 5 years and/or a $1,000-$5,000 fine. MCL 257.904(3)-(5) |
| Minnesota | Driving after one's license has been suspended, revoked or canceled, after notice or when one reasonably should know of it, is a misdemeanor (up to 90 days and/or $1,000). It is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and/or $3,000) if the person is required to use an ignition interlock to drive, or if the license was canceled or denied as inimical to public safety (as after repeat DWI offenses). Minn. Stat. § 171.24, subds. 1, 2, 3, 5 |
| Mississippi | Driving while one's license is cancelled, suspended or revoked is a misdemeanor punishable by 48 hours to six months in jail and a fine of $200 to $500. The Commissioner of Public Safety must also suspend the license for an additional six months, starting when the original suspension ends. The statute sets no separate repeat-offense tier. Miss. Code Ann. § 63-11-40 |
| Missouri | Driving while one's license is cancelled, suspended or revoked, with criminal negligence as to knowing it, is a class D misdemeanor (fine up to $500) for a first offense and a class A misdemeanor (up to one year and $2,000) for a second or third. A fourth or later offense within ten years (or a third if the person has a prior alcohol-related enforcement contact) is a class E felony (up to 4 years), with at least 48 hours served or community service before probation or parole. RSMo § 302.321; §§ 558.011, 558.002 |
| Montana | Driving on a public highway while one's driving privilege is suspended or revoked carries a fine up to $500 and/or up to six months in jail. If the suspension was for a DUI conviction or a test refusal, the penalty is 2 days to 6 months in jail and/or a fine up to $2,000, plus up to 40 hours of community service. On conviction the department extends the suspension or revocation by one year. MCA 61-5-212 |
| Nebraska | Driving while the license is revoked or impounded after a conviction, or while under a court order not to drive, is a Class II misdemeanor (up to six months and $1,000) for a first, second or third offense, and a Class I misdemeanor for a fourth or later; the court must add a one-year (first offense) or two-year (repeat) driving ban and revocation. Driving while the license is merely suspended, or after revocation or impoundment ends but before getting it back, is a Class III misdemeanor (up to three months and $500), with a possible one-year driving ban, but only a fine up to $100 if the person shows proof of reinstatement at sentencing. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-4,108; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-105, § 28-106 |
| Nevada | Driving while one's license is cancelled, revoked or suspended is a misdemeanor, and the DMV extends the suspension by a like period (or revocation by one year). If the license was taken for DUI, DUI homicide or a related offense, the penalty is 30 days to 6 months in jail (or 60 days to 6 months of residential confinement) and a $500 to $1,000 fine, with no probation, no suspended sentence and limits on plea bargaining. NRS 483.560; NRS 193.130, 193.140, 193.150 |
| New Hampshire | Driving while one's license is suspended or revoked is generally a violation with a minimum fine of $250 ($500 for a repeat), but it is a misdemeanor if the person has a prior such conviction within 7 years or the suspension was for reckless driving. If the suspension was for DUI, aggravated DUI, negligent homicide while impaired or a related offense, it is a misdemeanor with at least 7 consecutive days in jail, a fine up to $1,000 and an additional one-year revocation. Driving while suspended and causing a crash that kills or seriously injures someone is a class B felony. RSA 263:64; RSA 651:2, 625:9 |
| New Jersey | Driving while suspended or revoked is a motor-vehicle offense: first offense, a $500 fine; second, $750 and one to five days in county jail; third or later, $1,000 and 10 days in jail. The court must also extend the suspension up to six months, and an accident causing injury brings 45 to 180 days in jail; added fines, one-to-two-year suspensions and jail apply when the suspension was for DWI or no insurance. Driving while suspended for a second DWI, or for a first DWI after a prior suspended-driving conviction, is a crime of the fourth degree with a mandatory 180 days without parole. R.S. 39:3-40; N.J.S. 2C:40-26 |
| New Mexico | Driving on a suspended license, when the person knows or should have known of the suspension, is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $300 and/or up to 90 days in jail (or up to 90 days in a certified alternative sentencing program), and the vehicle may be immobilized for 30 days. Driving on a revoked license is a misdemeanor punishable by 4 to 364 days in jail and a fine up to $1,000; if the revocation was for DWI or implied-consent refusal, at least seven consecutive days in jail and a $300 to $1,000 fine that cannot be suspended or deferred. After a revoked-license conviction the vehicle must be immobilized for 30 days and no new license is issued for an additional year. Driving while a license is only administratively suspended is a penalty assessment misdemeanor. The statutes do not set separate first-versus-repeat penalties. NMSA 1978, § 66-5-39; § 66-5-39.1; § 66-5-39.2; § 66-8-7(B) |
| New York | Aggravated unlicensed operation in the third degree (driving when one knows or should know the license is suspended or revoked) is a misdemeanor: a $200-$500 fine, up to 30 days in jail, or both. The second degree is a misdemeanor with a fine of at least $500 and up to 180 days (or $500-$1,000 and seven to 180 days), triggered by a prior conviction within 18 months, a suspension for DWI or a chemical-test refusal, or three or more unpaid-ticket suspensions. The first degree is a class E felony (fine $500-$5,000 plus prison), for example when driving while intoxicated on a DWI-related suspension, with ten or more unpaid-ticket suspensions, or with five or more suspensions on separate dates. N.Y. Veh. & Traf. Law § 511 |
| North Carolina | Driving while one's license is revoked is a Class 3 misdemeanor. If the revocation was for impaired driving, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor and the license is revoked for an additional one year (first offense), two years (second) or permanently (third or later); the same applies to driving after a revocation for failure to appear. In some situations, such as when the person had become eligible for reinstatement, the person may instead be punished as for driving without a license. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 20-28 |
| North Dakota | Driving while one's license is suspended or revoked is a class B misdemeanor (up to 30 days and a $1,500 fine) for the first, second or third offense within five years, and a class A misdemeanor (up to 360 days) for later offenses in that period. If the suspension was for DUI or a chemical-test refusal, the sentence must include at least four consecutive days in jail. The court may dismiss the charge if the license is reinstated within 60 days, may order the vehicle's plates destroyed, and the suspension is extended (up to 90 days, 180 days or one year depending on prior offenses). N.D.C.C. §§ 39-06-42, 39-06-43; N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-01 |
| Ohio | Driving under suspension (or in violation of a license restriction) is a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine), and the court may add a class seven license suspension. If the vehicle is registered to the offender, one prior within three years allows 30 days of vehicle immobilization and plate impoundment, two priors 60 days, and three or more allow criminal forfeiture of the vehicle. The section requires no mandatory jail. R.C. 4510.11; R.C. 2929.14, 2929.18, 2929.24, 2929.28 |
| Oklahoma | Driving while your license is canceled, denied, suspended or revoked is a misdemeanor punished by a fine of $100 to $500 for a first conviction, $200 to $750 for a second, and $300 to $1,000 for a third or later, or up to one (1) year in jail, or both. If the license was revoked for drunk driving, the fines are $500 to $1,000, $1,000 to $2,000, and $2,000 to $5,000. Each act of driving is a separate offense, and the suspension or revocation is extended (three months, or four months for certain DUI revocations). 47 O.S. § 6-303(B)-(E) |
| Oregon | Driving while suspended or revoked is usually a Class A traffic violation (fine-only, up to $2,000). It becomes criminal driving while suspended or revoked, a Class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days), when the suspension is for certain reasons, such as refusing or failing a DUII breath or blood test, habitual offender status, or a felony involving a vehicle. It is a Class B felony (up to 10 years) if the suspension or revocation resulted from a vehicular homicide, manslaughter, murder or assault, aggravated vehicular homicide, or felony DUII. ORS 811.175, 811.182 |
| Pennsylvania | Driving while your license is suspended, revoked or canceled is a summary offense with a $200 fine, and adds one year to the suspension (two years to a revocation). If the suspension was for DUI or a related reason, a first offense is a $500 fine and 60 days in jail, a second offense $1,000 and 90 days, and a third or later offense a misdemeanor of the third degree with a $2,500 fine and at least six months. Driving while DUI-suspended with a blood alcohol of .02% or more, certain drugs in the system, or after refusing a test carries higher penalties, up to a misdemeanor of the first degree with a $5,000 fine and at least two years for a third offense. 75 Pa.C.S. § 1543 |
| Rhode Island | Driving while suspended, revoked or cancelled for ordinary reasons is a civil violation with a penalty of up to $150 for a first offense, $250 for a second and $350 for a third, heard in the traffic tribunal; a fourth or later offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year and a $500 to $1,000 fine. If the suspension was for DUI, refusing a chemical test, reckless driving, vehicular manslaughter or three moving violations in a year, driving is a misdemeanor for the first and second offenses (mandatory $500 fine, and for DUI/refusal-type suspensions at least ten (10) days in jail for a first offense and six months to one year for a second) and a felony for a third or later offense, with mandatory added suspension time. R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-11-18, 31-11-18.1 |
| South Carolina | Driving while your license is canceled, suspended or revoked is punished by a $300 fine and/or up to 30 days for a first offense, a $600 fine and/or up to 60 days for a second, and a $1,000 fine and up to 90 days (jail or home detention) for a third or later offense within five years. If the suspension was for DUI or felony DUI, the penalties are a $300 fine or 10 to 30 days (first), a $600 fine or 60 days to six months (second), and a $1,000 fine and six months to three years (third), with no suspension of the minimum. The suspension is extended by an equal period (or three more months if indefinite), and a revoked driver must wait an extra year for a new license. S.C. Code § 56-1-460 |
| South Dakota | Driving on a public highway while your driving privilege is revoked is a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to one year in county jail and/or $2,000); driving while it is suspended or canceled is a Class 2 misdemeanor (up to 30 days and/or $500). The statute does not set separate penalties for repeat offenses. SDCL 32-12-65 |
| Tennessee | Driving while your license is cancelled, suspended or revoked is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months and $500) for a first offense and a Class A misdemeanor (up to 11 months 29 days and $2,500) for a second or later offense within ten years. If the suspension was for DUI, vehicular assault or vehicular homicide, jail is mandatory: at least 2 days (up to 6 months) for a first offense and at least 45 days (up to one year) for a repeat, with fines up to $1,000 and $3,000; the vehicle may be forfeited. Tenn. Code Ann. § 55-50-504; Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111 |
| Texas | Driving while license invalid (suspended, revoked, cancelled, or barred by court order) is a Class C misdemeanor (fine up to $500) for a first offense. It is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 180 days and $2,000) with a prior conviction, if the person had no insurance, or if the earlier suspension was for DWI, and a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $4,000) if the uninsured driver caused a crash with serious injury or death. Tex. Transp. Code § 521.457(e)-(f-2); Tex. Penal Code §§ 12.21-12.35 |
| Utah | Driving while your license is denied, suspended, disqualified or revoked is a class C misdemeanor (up to 90 days and $750). It is a class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months and $1,000), with a fine of at least the class C maximum, if the suspension or revocation was for DUI, refusing a chemical test, alcohol-restricted driving, automobile homicide or a similar offense. Utah Code § 53-3-227; Utah Code §§ 76-3-203, 76-3-204, 76-3-205, 76-3-301 |
| Vermont | Driving while suspended or revoked for most reasons (such as unpaid fines or points) is a civil traffic violation, but a third or later violation within two years can be a crime with up to 2 years and/or $5,000. Driving while suspended for DUI, test refusal, grossly negligent driving, eluding police, leaving the scene of an injury or fatal crash, or a prior criminal suspended-license offense is a crime with up to 2 years and/or $5,000; for DUI-related suspensions there are mandatory minimums, such as a $300 fine or 40 hours of community service for a first offense and $750 or 80 hours for a second within five years. 23 V.S.A. §§ 674, 676 |
| Virginia | Driving while your license or privilege is suspended or revoked is a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 12 months and $2,500). The court must suspend the license again for the same period as the original suspension (or up to 90 more days if the original had no fixed end), and a vehicle impounded for a DUI-related suspension may be held up to 90 more days. With no violation in the past 10 years, the court may dismiss the charge if the driver proves compliance (except commercial drivers). Va. Code § 46.2-301; Va. Code §§ 18.2-10, 18.2-11 |
| Washington | Driving while license suspended or revoked (DWLS) has three degrees. First degree (a habitual traffic offender driving while revoked) is a gross misdemeanor with mandatory jail of at least 10 days, 90 days and 180 days for first, second and later convictions. Second degree (driving while not eligible to reinstate, for example after a DUI-related or prior DWLS suspension) is a gross misdemeanor. Third degree (suspended only for reasons such as unpaid tickets, failure to appear, no proof of insurance, or child support, or while eligible to reinstate) is a misdemeanor (up to 90 days and $1,000). RCW 46.20.342; RCW 9A.20.021 |
| West Virginia | Driving on a suspended or revoked license is a misdemeanor with a $100-$500 fine for a first or second offense; a third or later offense brings 30-90 days in jail and a $150-$500 fine. If the revocation was for DUI or for refusing a chemical test, penalties are higher: 30 days to 6 months in jail plus $100-$500 (first), 6 months to 1 year plus $1,000-$3,000 (second), and a felony of 1-3 years plus $3,000-$5,000 (third or later). The DMV extends the suspension or revocation by 6 months (DUI-related) or 90 days (repeat ordinary cases). Home detention may substitute for jail. W. Va. Code § 17B-4-3 |
| Wisconsin | Driving while suspended is a civil forfeiture of $50-$200; knowing about the suspension is not required. Driving while revoked is a forfeiture of up to $2,500, but a crime (up to $2,500 and/or 1 year in county jail) if the revocation stems from an OWI-type offense, with up to $10,000 and 1 year for a repeat violation of a permanent revocation. If the driver causes great bodily harm or death, penalties rise to $5,000-$10,000, and it is a Class I felony (great bodily harm) or Class H felony (death) if the driver knew the license was suspended or revoked. The court may order the vehicle impounded. Wis. Stat. § 343.44(1), (2), (4); Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50, 939.51 |
| Wyoming | Driving while one's license is cancelled, suspended, revoked or invalid is a misdemeanor with up to 6 months in jail and/or a $750 fine. A second conviction during the same suspension or revocation, or driving while suspended or revoked because of a DUI conviction, brings a mandatory 7 days to 6 months in jail (no probation until 7 days are served) plus a $200-$750 fine. A driver under 21 caught with a 0.02% alcohol concentration is not subject to the 7-day jail term but gets a 30-day administrative suspension. W.S. 31-7-134 |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.