Driving is not a right in Georgia. Instead, it is a privilege that the state limits by imposing numerous legal restrictions. Drivers need to pass a test to obtain a license. They have to pay a fee for that license and must renew it occasionally to ensure they still meet state standards.
People might fail to renew their licenses when the time comes. They could also occasionally run into legal issues that result in the state suspending or revoking their license. Impaired driving or repeated traffic violations could lead to a license suspension. Anyone caught driving while unlicensed could face penalties for driving without a license.
Licensing status and personal history determine the penalties
Every case involving accusations of driving without a license is different from the next. State authorities look at whether someone actually lacked a license and if they have driven without a license previously when determining what charges to pursue and what penalties to assess.
Someone accused of driving without their license in the vehicle could face a misdemeanor charge that carries up to $1,000 in fines and a year in jail. Thankfully, those who arrive to court with a valid license can simply pay a $10 fine. Those who do not have a valid license could end up facing the maximum penalties. If they had a license but the state suspended, revoked or restricted it, then the penalties they face could be even more serious.
A first offense can lead to between two days and a year in jail, as well as between $500 and $1,000 in fines. The state could also increase the duration of the current license suspension by another six months. A second or third infraction carries an increased minimum jail sentence of ten days, and the fine increases to between $1,000 and $2,500. Someone accused of driving without a license four or more times in under five years could face felony charges. The penalties increase to between a year and five years in prison and as much as $5,000 in fines.
Properly responding to allegations of driving without a license can help someone avoid immediate penalties and the possibility of increasing consequences after a future traffic violation. Drivers aware of the penalties for different infractions may better understand the value derived from fighting traffic-related criminal charges.
