In Texas, people’s driver licenses can be suspended or revoked for various reasons, such as a driving while intoxicated (DWI) conviction, a drug-related offense, having too many points on their driving record, or because of past-due child support. Texas is a BIG place and it can be all too tempting for people to drive even though their driver license is suspended or revoked.
Often, such people want to drive to work or take their kids to school, or they want to drive to the corner grocery store to buy milk or diapers. The problem is it’s actually a crime to drive on a suspended or revoked driver license. If someone drives with an invalid license, they can get into a lot of trouble.
What the Law Says
Driving while license invalid is covered under Section 521.457 of the Texas Transportation Code. Under this section, it’s against the law for someone to operate a motor vehicle after their driver license has been cancelled, suspended, or revoked. It is also illegal for a person to drive if their license has expired or been denied for any reason.
A first violation of Section 521.457 is a Class C misdemeanor, punishable by a $500 fine. If a person drives while their license is invalid in Texas and they are caught, not only can they be charged with a Class C misdemeanor, but they will have to deal with additional penalties that will affect their license. According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), “Individuals who drive a motor vehicle while their driver license is suspended, revoked, denied or cancelled are subject to an additional suspension for the same period of time as the original suspension.”
Note: Some people can apply for an occupational license while their Texas driver license is suspended or revoked. To learn more, click here.
Need help with a license issue? Contact The Zendeh Del Law Firm, PLLC.