If
your license has been suspended, and you are operating a motor vehicle, then
you are illegally operating a motor vehicle and may be subject to fines, loss
of license and or jail time.
Drivers
with suspended licenses are involved in fatal crashes only second to
alcohol-related fatalities.
While
in most states driving while your license has been suspended is treated as a
misdemeanor charge, and the penalties are usually monetary fines for first
offense which progressively increase with each consecutive infraction, some
states will classify repeat offenses as criminal or felony charges.
When
you are convicted of driving on a suspended license your receive points against
your driving record. These points stay on your record for varying lengths of
time, depending on the jurisdiction you live in. However, these points are made
available to your auto insurance provider, and as a result of the infraction,
your insurance premiums will increase significantly.
| State |
Avg. Fines |
Points |
Traffic School |
License Suspension Rate |
Jail |
| Alabama |
$100-$500
|
Expect insurance premiums to increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
No, but judge and case specific circumstances allow for traffic school as means of dismissing ticket
|
Possible extension on license suspension.
|
Possible jail sentence of not more than 180 days; immediate vehicle impoundment.
|
| Alaska
|
$500-$1,000
|
10 points, premiums on insurance will probably increase or policy might be terminated.
|
Yes, more than 6 points in a year for provision license holders. Traffic school can be used once annually to reduce overall point total
|
Suspension possible.
|
10 days in prison, possible forfeiture of vehicle.
|
| Arizona
|
$300-$500
|
Expect insurance premiums to increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
Not required, but voluntary attendance will dismiss ticket and avoid being placed on driving record
|
Additional suspension possible.
|
At least 48 hours in jail, possible forfeiture of vehicle.
|
| Arkansas
|
Up to $500
|
Violation may increase premiums on insurance or result in policy being cancelled.
|
Case specific, but potentially required
|
License revocation on case specific basis
|
2-6 months in prison.
|
| California
|
$300-$1,000
|
Expect insurance premiums to increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
Yes, case specific, but one offense per eighteen months may be masked from public view if completing traffic school
|
License suspension reinstatement automatically requires adminstrative hearing
|
Up to 6 months in prison, possible forfeiture of vehicle.
|
| Colorado
|
$50-$500
|
Expect insurance premiums to increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
Yes, case specific, but will not dimiss points from record
|
Possible extension on license suspension.
|
5 days to 6 months in jail.
|
| Connecticut
|
First offense $150-$200, subsequent offense $200-$600
|
Insurance premiums will probably rise or policy can be cancelled.
|
May be required by clerk, dismissal of fines or points possible through clerk approved traffic school arrangement
|
Additional suspension possible.
|
Up to 1 year imprisonment.
|
| Delaware
|
First offense $500-$1,000, subsequent offense $1,000-$4,000
|
Insurance premiums will probably rise or policy can be cancelled.
|
Yes, case specific and required, may be used to reduce overall point count
|
Suspension may be lengthened.
|
First offense 30 days to 6 months in jail, subsequent offense 60 days to 1 year.
|
| DC
|
Up to $1,000
|
4 points, premiums on insurance will probably increase or policy might be terminated.
|
Yes, may be required, and can be used as means of reducing point total
|
Possible extension on license suspension.
|
Possible jail time required.
|
| Florida
|
First offence $500, second offense $1,000, subsequent offense $5,000
|
Violation may increase premiums on insurance or result in policy being cancelled.
|
Yes, and basic driver improvement courses are option for dimissing points
|
Possible extension on license suspension.
|
First offense up to 1 years, seubsequent offense up to 5 years.
|
| Georgia
|
Up to $1,000-$2,500
|
Violation may increase premiums on insurance or result in policy being cancelled.
|
Yes, and potentially used for one violation reduction every five (5) years
|
Accumulation of fifteen (15) points in two years results in suspension
|
First offense 2 days to 12 months, subsequent offense 10 days to 1 year.
|
| Hawaii
|
Case specific, for DUI related suspension $250-$2,000.
|
Point system not applicable in state, insurance rates will likely increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
Yes, may be mandated in event of serious offenses
|
Case specific, in third offense license is permanently revoked.
|
For suspension due to a DUI: first offense 3-30 days in jail, second offense 30 days, subsequent offense within five years is 1 year in jail.
|
| Idaho
|
First offense $500, second offense $1,000, subsequent offense $3,000.
|
Expect insurance premiums to increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
Yes, once every three (3) years, drivers may reduce point total by three points
|
License suspended for additional 6 months.
|
2 days to 6 months in jail.
|
| Illinois
|
Up to $2,500
|
Insurance premiums will probably rise or policy can be cancelled.
|
Yes, required for some offenses, can be used as means of dismissing points in lieu of license suspension
|
Suspension may be lengthened.
|
Possible jail sentence and community service requirements, possible forfeiture of vehicle.
|
| Indiana
|
Up to $500
|
8 points
|
Yes, driver safety program required in case specific situations and in lieu of point total nearing suspension levels
|
Possible extension on license suspension.
|
Up to 60 days in jail.
|
| Iowa
|
$250-$1,000
|
None, violation will probably increase insurance premium rates though or policy might be cancelled.
|
Yes, courts may require driver improvement program
|
License suspension possiblely lengthened.
|
Possible jail time required.
|
| Kansas
|
At least $100
|
No point system in state, violation will likely raise insurance premiums rates if policy is not terminated.
|
Yes, may be required, and may be done every three (3) years to garner better insurance premiums
|
Possible extension on license suspension.
|
At least 5 days in jail.
|
| Kentucky
|
Up to $250
|
Violation may increase premiums on insurance or result in policy being cancelled.
|
Yes, can elect to attend once per year if eligible to dismiss violation for given offense causing attendance
|
Additional suspension possible.
|
First offense up to 90 days in jail and license suspended for additional 6 months, second offense 90 days to 1 years and possible one year license additional license suspension, subsequent offense 1-5 years in jail and up to two year additional license suspension.
|
| Louisiana
|
$500
|
No point system, reported to PDPS, insurance rates will probably increase.
|
Yes, may be required, and can be used to suspend conviction of violation
|
1 year additional suspension.
|
Up to 6 months in prision and 1 year additional license suspension.
|
| Maine
|
$250-$500, DUI related is $600
|
Expect insurance premiums to increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
Yes, may be mandated, can be used to dimiss three (3) demerit points per one (1) year period
|
For suspension due to DUI: 1 to 3 additional years license suspension.
|
For suspension due to a DUI: 7 days in jail.
|
| Maryland
|
Up to $500
|
3-12 points, insurance premiums will probably increase or policy might be cancelled.
|
None
|
Possible extension on license suspension.
|
2 months in jail.
|
| Massachusetts
|
$500-$1,000
|
Violation may increase premiums on insurance or result in policy being cancelled.
|
Yes, required if driver accumulates five (5) surchargeable events in three (3) years
|
Possible additional suspension on license of 60 day for first offense and 1 year for second offense.
|
First offense up to 10 days in prison, subsequent offense 60 days to 1 year.
|
| Michigan
|
$500-$1,000, may be more if injury or death were caused while driving with license suspended.
|
Insurance premiums will probably rise or policy can be cancelled.
|
Yes, potentially mandated
|
Additional suspension possible.
|
First offense up to 93 days in jail, second offense up to 1 year.
|
| Minnesota
|
Up to $1,000
|
None, violations may increase insurance premium rates though
|
Yes, courts may require driver imporvement course in lieu of or on top of existing offenses
|
Suspension may be lengthened.
|
Possible jail time required.
|
| Mississippi
|
$200-$500
|
No point system in state, premiums on insurance will probably rise.
|
Yes, potentially mandated, but can be used to dimiss offenses
|
Possible additional 6 months suspention on license.
|
48 hours to 6 months in jail.
|
| Missouri
|
Up to $1,000
|
Expect insurance premiums to increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
Yes, either mandated or voluntarily undergone to reduce point total
|
Additional suspension possible.
|
Either 48 hours in jail or comminity service required.
|
| Montana
|
Up to $500
|
Insurance premiums will probably rise or policy can be cancelled.
|
Yes, potentially mandated as sanction, but will not reduce or dismiss points
|
License possibly suspended for additional 1 year.
|
2 days to 6 months in jail.
|
| Nebraska
|
Up to $500
|
Violation may increase premiums on insurance or result in policy being cancelled.
|
Yes, possibly mandated as sanction, but also, can be used to remove 2 points every five (5) years
|
First offense additional suspension for 1 year, subsequent offense additional suspension for 2 years.
|
Possible jail time required.
|
| Nevada
|
$500-$1,000
|
Insurance premiums will probably rise or policy can be cancelled.
|
Yes, potentially required, but also, can be used once per one (1) year period to reduce points voluntarily
|
Additional suspension possible.
|
First offense 30 days to 6 months in jail, subsequent offense up to 1 year.
|
| New Hampshire
|
$1,000
|
4 points, premiums on insurance will probably increase or policy might be terminated.
|
Yes, required in some instances and as possible means of reducing points
|
Additional 1 year suspension.
|
7 periods of 24 hours to be spent in jail within 6 months.
|
| New Jersey
|
$1,000
|
Expect insurance premiums to increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
Yes, case pending may be required, otherwise can be used to remove 2 points from record
|
Possible extension on license suspension.
|
30 days in jail.
|
| New Mexico
|
Up to $1,000
|
Violation may increase premiums on insurance or result in policy being cancelled.
|
Yes, may be mandated or voluntarily undergone for points reduction
|
Additional 1 year suspension.
|
4 to 364 days in jail.
|
| New York
|
$200-$500
|
Insurance premiums will probably rise or policy can be cancelled.
|
Yes, potentially required in specific cases, and may be used to remove up to 4 points in some cases
|
License suspension possiblely lengthened.
|
At least 30 days in jail.
|
| North Carolina
|
$500-$2,500
|
Insurance premiums will probably rise or policy can be cancelled.
|
Yes, driver improvement clinics may be mandated, and can be used once every five (5) years for 3 point reduction
|
Additional license suspension for first offense 1 year, second offense is 2 years, on third offense license is permanently revoked.
|
Possible jail time required.
|
| North Dakota
|
$250-$1,000
|
Expect insurance premiums to increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
Yes, and driver may elect to undergo driver improvement course once annually to reduce by 2 points
|
Suspension may be lengthened.
|
4 days in prison, license plate may be impounded.
|
| Ohio
|
Up to $1,000
|
6 points, premiums on insurance will likely increase or policy might be cancelled.
|
Yes, remedial dirving instruction may be legally required to reinstate driving priviledges
|
Possible extension on license suspension.
|
License plate may be impounded.
|
| Oklahoma
|
$100-$500
|
Violation may increase premiums on insurance or result in policy being cancelled.
|
Yes, potentially mandated, but also can be used to reduce 2 points
|
Possible extension on license suspension.
|
Up to 1 year imprisonment.
|
| Oregon
|
First offense at least $1,000, subsequent offense at least $2,000.
|
No point system, premiums on insurance will probably increase.
|
Yes, if mandated, but not possible to reduce offense total
|
Additional license suspension.
|
Possible jail sentence.
|
| Pennsylvania
|
$200, if suspension was due to DUI: $1,000
|
Expect insurance premiums to increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
Yes, if mandated as sanction, but not means of reducing violation or dismissing points
|
License is suspended for additional 1 year.
|
For DUI related suspension: at least 90 days in jail.
|
| Rhode Island
|
First offense $250-$500, subsequent offense $350-$1,000.
|
No point system, premiums on insurance will probably increase.
|
Yes, if mandated by licensing authority
|
Additional 1 years suspension on license.
|
First offense up to 30 days in jail, subsequent up to 1 year in jail.
|
| South Carolina
|
First offense $300, second is $600, subsequent is $1,000.
|
Insurance premiums will probably rise or policy can be cancelled.
|
Yes, potentially mandated and means of removing 4 points
|
Suspension may be lengthened.
|
First offense up to 30 days in jail, subsequent up to 60 days, subsequent 90 days to 6 months.
|
| South Dakota
|
$200
|
Violation may increase premiums on insurance or result in policy being cancelled.
|
No
|
Possible additional suspension time.
|
30 days in jail, license is suspended for additional 1 year.
|
| Tennessee
|
$500
|
8 points, violation may increase insurance premiums or result in termination of policy.
|
Yes, may be mandated, and drivers may reduce points through course once every five (5) years
|
Possible additional suspension time.
|
Up to 6 months in prison.
|
| Texas
|
$250
|
Expect insurance premiums to increase or policy may be cancelled.
|
Yes, potentially required, and may be used to dismiss violation
|
Suspension is reinstated for amount of time originally sentenced.
|
Possible jail time required.
|
| Utah
|
$750
|
Insurance premiums will probably rise or policy can be cancelled.
|
Yes, possibly court mandated, and if necessary, can be used once every three (3) years to remove 50 points
|
Suspension may be lengthened.
|
Up to 6 months in jail.
|
| Vermont
|
Up to $5,000
|
4 points, premiums on insurance will probably increase or policy might be terminated.
|
Yes, possibly required as part of license reinstatement
|
Additional license suspension possible.
|
Up to 2 years in prison and community service time required.
|
| Virginia
|
$1,000
|
6 points, premiums on insurance will likely increase or policy might be cancelled.
|
Yes, driver improvement clinic may be required, and possibly used to offset 5 demerit points
|
License suspension may be lengthened.
|
Vehicle may be impounded for 90 days.
|
| Washington
|
Up to $500
|
No point system, premiums on insurance will probably increase.
|
Yes, potentially required by court authority
|
Additional license suspension time required.
|
First offense is 10 days in jail, second offense is 90 days, subsequent offense is 180 days.
|
| West Virginia
|
$500
|
Insurance premiums will probably rise or policy can be cancelled.
|
Yes, drivers may be legally bound to attend, and attendance may reduce points as well
|
Possible extension on license suspension.
|
Up to 6 months in prison.
|
| Wisconsin
|
First offense is $600, second offense is $1,000, subsequent offense is $2,000.
|
6 points, premiums on insurance will likely increase or policy might be cancelled.
|
Yes, sometimes required, but voluntarily taken can reduce points by 3 every five (5) years
|
Possible additional suspension time.
|
Second offense up to 6 months in jail, subsequent offense up to 9 months.
|
| Wyoming
|
$750
|
No point system, premiums on insurance will probably increase.
|
No
|
Suspension may be lengthened.
|
Up to 6 months in jail.
|
Driving
while your license is suspended isn’t usually thought of as a serious crime,
but many states look at it exactly as that; a serious crime that warrants
serious consequences. This is especially true for repeat offenses. As such, it
is very important that you be represented with experienced traffic lawyers to ensure your rights
are protected.
It
should be noted that when a person pleads guilty to a traffic violation they
could be putting themselves in a situation in which their privilege to operate
a motor vehicle may be revoked.
