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Driving without a license
Driving without a license, or driving with a suspended license or revoked license, is illegal in all 50 states and the consequences can be dire. In most cases, the first offense is not a simple traffic infraction, but a misdemeanor that carries much heavier penalties than a traffic ticket. Once you move on to a second offense and beyond, it’s often a felony.
Fines can range from $50 in Oklahoma up to $25,000 (second offense) in Illinois. You will face a license suspension, two months on the low end up to a year for a first offense. If it’s a second offense, you will probably be hoofing it for at least one to two years. There is also a good chance your vehicle will be impounded or your license plate confiscated.
Jail time (up to five years) is a very real possibility for anything other than a first offense, as is community service, not to mention your permanent driving record will now have a misdemeanor listed on it.
If you have never had a license, the penalties will probably be less severe compared to someone caught driving with a suspended or revoked license — but it is still a misdemeanor instead of a traffic ticket. In most states, if you are driving with a suspended or revoked license, you will be leaving the scene in handcuffs.
Driving without an insurance
You’re putting yourself at risk in more ways than one if you drive without insurance. The lapse in your coverage after driving without insurance will cost you, on average, 10 percent more when you finally get a new policy in place. But the cost is much higher in some states, for instance, in California, the average driver faces a 36 percent hike, and in Massachusetts and North Carolina you’ll see increases of about 30 percent, CarInsurance rate data show.
Additionally, the penalties for driving uninsured vary by state, and more importantly, if you get in an accident, you’re on the hook to pay for the damages.
For example, in California, if you drive uninsured and get in an accident, you could lose your license for up to four years, whether or not the accident was your fault. After a year, you may be able to get your license back if you get insurance, provide proof to the motor vehicle department and pay a reinstatement fee. Bear in mind you will also be required to file an SR-22 form to show proof of financial responsibility. You are also responsible for all the costs associated with the accident. Even if the other driver has uninsured motorist coverage and his insurer compensates him, his insurance company will likely sue you to recover its costs. This means you could lose your assets and home if the cost of the damage exceeds the amount of money you can pay.
Even if you are lucky enough to avoid an accident while driving without car insurance, in many states your registration and license will be revoked if you are cited, you have to pay a fine and your car may be impounded. Rather than driving without insurance, consider buying the cheapest car insurance you can get. This would be the minimum liability insurance requirement in your state to drive legally. In some states, minimum coverage costs less than $400 a year.
Cellphone laws and penalties
Laws regarding cellphone use and texting vary dramatically across the country and they can be confusing. In some states there are certain cities that have stricter laws on the books than the state law, making knowing where you can and cannot use your phone a bit of a mystery.
As it stands right now, in 47 states plus Washington D.C. it is illegal to text while driving. In the majority of states it is a primary law but there are a few outliers where texting and driving is only a secondary law.
If the law is primary it means that a police officer can pull a driver over and issue a ticket for using a cellphone while driving. The officer does not need any other reason to pull you over, other than the cellphone violation.
If the law is secondary, the police must pull a driver over for a different primary violation, as an example speeding or reckless driving. They then have the right to issue a ticket for a cellphone violation in addition to the primary offense. They cannot pull you over for a cellphone violation on its own if the law is secondary.
In order to add one more layer of confusion, many states have separate restrictions that only apply to younger, inexperienced drivers.
Driver texting and cellphone ticket penalties by state
The penalties for talking and texting on a cellphone can vary dramatically between states. At one point, texting while driving in Alaska was a misdemeanor, punishable by a year in jail and a $10,000 fine for a first offender. Luckily, the fine has been scaled back in recent years and now tops out at $500 in the Last Frontier.
While Alaska’s fine was a bit over the top, texting or talking while driving can still be an expensive ticket in certain states. A first ticket in Oregon can result in a $1,000 ticket, which goes up to $2,500 for a second offense.
On the other end of the spectrum, in Wisconsin a texting while driving ticket is a measly $20. In the majority of states, fines run between $50 and $200.
Alabama
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $25 first offense
Points on license: 2 points
Alaska
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: Up to $500
Points on license: No points
Arizona
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: Not illegal
Points on license: No points
Teens are banned from using cell phones until have a graduated license or reach 18 First offense is $75 and restrictions on their license for 30 days. Second violation results in a $100 fine and restriction on their license for 60 days
Arkansas
Penalty for talking: Only illegal in school or construction zones
Penalty for texting: Up to $100
Points on license: No points
California
Penalty for talking: $20 first offense, $50 for additional ones
Penalty for texting: $20 first offense, $50 for additional ones
Points on license: No points
Colorado
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $300
Points on license: 4 points
Connecticut
Penalty for talking: $150 first offense, $300 for second, $500 for third or more
Penalty for texting: $150 first offense, $300 for second, $500 for third or more
Points on license: No points
Delaware
Penalty for talking: $100 first offense, up to $300 for second or more
Penalty for texting: $100 first offense, up to $300 for second or more
Points on license: No points
Washington D.C.
Penalty for talking: $100
Penalty for texting: $100
Points on license: No points
Florida
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $30
Points on license: 3 points for second offense; 2 more points for school zone; 6 for accident
Georgia
Penalty for talking: $50 first offense, $100 second, $150 third
Penalty for texting: $30
Points on license: 1 point
Hawaii
Penalty for talking: $250 first offense, $300 if in school or construction zone
Penalty for texting: $250 first offense, $300 if in school or construction zone
Points on license: No points
Idaho
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $81.50
Points on license: No points
Illinois
Penalty for talking: $75 first offense, $100 second, $125 third
Penalty for texting: $75 first offense, $100 second, $125 third
Points on license: No points
Indiana
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: Up to $500
Points on license: No points
Iowa
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $30 – Court costs push it up to $100
Points on license: No points
Kansas
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $60
Points on license: No points
Kentucky
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $25 first offense, $50 each additional
Points on license: 3 points
Louisiana
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $500 first offense, $1,000 each additional
Points on license: No points
Maine
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $250 first offense, up to $500 each additional
Points on license: No points
Maryland
Penalty for talking: $75 first offense, $125 second, $175 third
Penalty for texting: $500
Points on license: 1 point; 3 if an accident
Massachusetts
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $100 first offense, $250 second, $500 third
Points on license: No points
Michigan
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $100 first offense, $200 second and more
Points on license: No points
Minnesota
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $50 first offense, $225 second and more
Points on license: No points
Mississippi
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $100
Points on license: No points
Missouri
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: Not Illegal
Points on license: No points
Montana
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: Not Illegal
Points on license: No points
Nebraska
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $200 first offense, $300 second, $500 third and more
Points on license: 3 points
Nevada
Penalty for talking: $50 first offense, $100 second, $250 third and more
Penalty for texting: $50 first offense, $100 second, $250 third and more
Points on license: 4 points for second offense or more
New Hampshire
Penalty for talking: $100 first offense, $250 second, $500 third or more
Penalty for texting: $100 first offense, $250 second, $500 third or more
Points on license: No points
New Jersey
Penalty for talking: $200-$400 first offense, $400-$600 second, $600-$800 third or more
Penalty for texting: : $200-$400 first offense, $400-$600 second, $600-$800 third or more
Points on license: 3 points for third offense or more
New Mexico
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $25 first offense, $50 second
Points on license: No points
New York
Penalty for talking: Up to $200 first offense, Up to $250 second, Up to $450 third
Penalty for texting: Up to $200 first offense, Up to $250 second, Up to $450 third
Points on license: 5 points
North Carolina
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $100
Points on license: No points
North Dakota
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $100
Points on license: No points
Ohio
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: Up to $150
Points on license: No points
Oklahoma
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $100
Points on license: No points
Oregon
Penalty for talking: Up to $1,000 first offense, Up to $2,500 second, Up to $2,500 and 6 months in jail third and more
Penalty for texting: Up to $1,000 first offense, Up to $2,500 second, Up to $2,500 and 6 months in jail third and more
Points on license: No points
Pennsylvania
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $50
Points on license: No points
Rhode Island
Penalty for talking: $100
Penalty for texting: $100
Points on license: No points
South Carolina
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $25
Points on license: No points
South Dakota
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $100
Points on license: No points
Tennessee
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $50
Points on license: No points
Texas
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: Up to $99 first offense, Up to $200 second
Points on license: No points
Utah
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: Up to $750 first offense
Points on license: No points
Vermont
Penalty for talking: Up to $200 first offense, up to $500 second
Penalty for texting: Up to $200 first offense, up to $500 second
Points on license: No
Virginia
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $125 first offense, $250 second
Points on license: 3 points
Washington
Penalty for talking: $136 first offense $234 Second
Penalty for texting: $136 first offense $234 Second
Points on license: No points
West Virginia
Penalty for talking: $100 first offense $200 Second, $300 third
Penalty for texting: $100 first offense $200 Second, $300 third
Points on license: 3 points for the third offense
Wisconsin
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: Up to $400
Points on license: 4 points
Wyoming
Penalty for talking: Not illegal
Penalty for texting: $75
Points on license: No points
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