What Happens If You Are Caught Driving With A Suspended License In Indiana?
In Indiana, driving is a privilege and not a right. That is why the state can suspend your driver’s license for various reasons. If your license is suspended, no matter how tempting it might be, it is vital to abide by the law and avoid driving with a suspended license. You could be fined or sent to jail if caught driving with a suspended license in Indiana.
Reasons for License Suspension in Indiana
As stated, a driver’s license can be suspended in Indiana for various reasons. Below are some of the most common reasons that licenses are suspended in Indiana;
- Driving under the influence: If you are found driving with a BAC of 0.08% or higher in Indiana, your license could be suspended. A first DUI/OWI offense could lead to a license suspension of 90 days to 2 years. The suspension period is longer for subsequent offenses.
- Racking up too many traffic violations: In Indiana, drivers accumulate points on their licenses each time they commit a traffic violation. If a driver gets twenty points in two years, their license will be suspended. If a license is suspended, the duration of the suspension depends on the number of points the driver has.
- Driving without insurance: If you cannot show proof of active insurance when asked to by the police, and cannot later show you had active insurance at the time, your license will be suspended for 90 days. A subsequent offenses of driving without insurance will result in a longer suspension period.
- Non-driving reasons: For example, your license may be suspended if you fail to pay child support, fail to pay traffic tickets, or if you owe money to the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).
Penalties for Driving With a Suspended License in Indiana
If you are caught driving with a suspended license in Indiana, first you will be issued an infraction. Subsequent offenses will be charged as misdemeanors. Even just the infraction carries a penalty of a fine of up to $10,000.
If you are caught driving with a suspended license for the second or subsequent times, you will be charged with a class A misdemeanor. According to IC 9-24-19-2, this applies to violations within ten years. In Indiana, a class A misdemeanor is punishable by a jail term of up to one year and a fine of up to $5,000.
According to IC 9-24-19-3, if you drive with a suspended license and are involved in a crash that kills or results in bodily injury or catastrophic injury, you could be charged with a level 5 or level 6 felony. Level 6 felonies carry a fine of up to $10,000 and a jail term of six months to 2 ½ years. On the other hand, a Level 5 felony conviction can result in a fine of up to $10,000 and a prison term of one to six years.
Contact Us for Legal Help
If you’ve been charged with driving with a suspended license in Indiana and need a qualified lawyer to help you, contact Rigney Law LLC. Contact our Indianapolis criminal defense lawyers today at 317-623-0989 to discuss your case.
