DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE IN VIRGINIA (46.2-301)

If you have received a driving without a license in Virginia ticket, don’t worry, as a traffic lawyer, I can fight your case in court and protect your legal driving rights.

read below how to defend driving without a license tickets 

In Virginia, §46.2-300 requires people who operate a motor vehicle on Virginia roadways to have a valid Virginia driver’s license.

There are a few exceptions to this general rule, but they are narrow.

Generally, it is a class 2 misdemeanor to drive without a license.

Because driving is so central to our daily lives for employment, groceries, socializing, and more, driving without a license happens.

If you face a charge of driving without a license in Virginia, get an experienced Driving Without a License in Virginia from American Lawyers Group

Exceptions to Virginia License Requirement

As stated above, there are a few exceptions to the requirement for a license to operate a motor vehicle. 

For example, §46.2-303 allows for the use of farm vehicles, tractors, and road work machinery with proper supervision. 

Additionally, Virginia law makes exceptions for military personnel to operate military vehicles without a valid Virginia license. 

Lastly, Virginia makes the exception to allow out of state drivers to drive on Virginia roads if they have a valid license from their home state

Driving With a Suspended License in Virginia

• 46.2-301 makes it a class 1 misdemeanor to operate a motor vehicle while your license is suspended or while your privilege to drive is revoked by the court. 
• §46.2-301 also allows the commonwealth to impound your vehicle for driving while your privilege to drive has been revoked.
• If you are driving a car that is not your own when stopped, such as your brother’s car or a friend’s car, the commonwealth cannot impound it.  Any impoundment fees and costs will have to be paid by the offender.

Virginia has to notify you that your license and driving privileges have been suspended. 

If Virginia does not do so, it can be a powerful defense later in the trying of the case.

Penalties for Driving Without a License

Driving without a license is like other crimes.  The first offense will be punished less harshly and will likely see more leniency from judges than repeat offenses.  

The first offense of driving without a license in Virginia is a class 2 misdemeanor. 

These kinds of misdemeanors carry penalties of up to six months in jail and $1,000 in fines. 

However, a skilled Virginia driver’s license attorney from the American Lawyers group can help mitigate these penalties and reduce charges being pressed.

A second offense of driving without a license will be a more serious charge. 

Second offenses are class 1 misdemeanors. 

Class 1 is the most severe class of misdemeanors in Virginia, and it carries up to a year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. 

On second offenses, Virginia courts will be far less forgiving and far less willing to lower charges. 

Additionally, driving without a license can lead to the impoundment of your vehicle. 

If you are driving after having your license suspended, §46.2-301 allows the commonwealth to impound your vehicle for driving while your privilege to drive has been revoked.

If you are driving a car that is not your own when stopped, such as your brother’s car or a friend’s car, the commonwealth cannot impound it. 

Any impoundment fees and costs will have to be paid by the offender.

Defenses to Driving Without a License

To get a conviction, Virginia’s prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you operated a motor vehicle, you did so on a Virginia highway, and that you did not have a valid driver’s license. 

A skilled Driving Without a License in Virginia can help by arguing that either your case is missing an element of the crime, or that Virginia failed to meet its burden by proving each element beyond a reasonable doubt.

If Virginia is prosecuting you for driving without a valid license because your license was suspended, you can counter the charge by showing that you were never given notice that your license was ever suspended.

Why You Need a Driving Without a License in Virginia?

Virginia takes driving seriously.  Even a single instance of driving without a valid Virginia license can result in jail time and heavy fines. 

Repeat offenses lead to more jail time, steeper fines, and even the impoundment of your car. 

If you face charges of driving without a license, do not fight them alone.  You need to get a skilled Virginia driver’s license attorney who can combat the prosecution’s case, mitigate your fines and penalties, and get you back on the road as safely and as quickly as possible. 

Contact the skilled Driving Without a License in Virginia at American Lawyers Group today.