§ 1501. Driving Without a Valid Driver’s License
Fine $200
No Suspension for first offense.
2nd or subsequent offense:
Fine $200 minimum to $1000 maximum, and discretionary jail time of up to 6 months
Fine $200 minimum to $1000 maximum
Discretionary jail time of up to 6 months in addition to, or instead of, fine, per Title 75 – §6503(b)
Suspension of 6 months for second or subsequent offense within 5 years, per Title 75 – §1532(b)(2)
§ 1501. Drivers required to be licensed.
(a) General rule.–No person, except those expressly exempted, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a highway or public property in this Commonwealth unless the person has a driver’s license valid under the provisions of this chapter. As used in this subsection, the term “public property” includes, but is not limited to, driveways and parking lots owned or leased by the Commonwealth, a political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality of either.
(d) Penalty.–Any person violating subsection (a) is guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of $200, except that, if the person charged furnishes satisfactory proof of having held a driver’s license valid on the last day of the preceding driver’s license period and no more than one year has elapsed from the last date for renewal, the fine shall be $25. No person charged with violating subsection (a) or (b) shall be convicted if the person produces at the office of the issuing authority within 15 days of the violation:
(1) a driver’s license valid in this Commonwealth at the time of the violation; or
(2) if the driver’s license is lost, stolen, destroyed or illegible, evidence that the driver was licensed at the time of the violation.
(July 1, 1981, P.L.202, No.63, eff. imd.; May 30, 1990, P.L.173, No.42; Dec. 18, 1992, P.L.1411, No.174, eff. 60 days; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. 60 days)
1998 Amendment. Act 151 amended subsec. (c).
1992 Amendment. Act 174 amended subsec. (a).
1990 Amendment. Act 42 amended subsecs. (c) and (d), effective November 1, 1990, as to subsec. (c) and 60 days as to subsec. (d).
Special Provisions in Appendix. See section 4 of Act 143 of 1994 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to habitual offenders.
