Driving Without A License In Florida Could Result In Jail Time

Motorists pulled over and found not to have valid driver's licenses would face mandatory jail time if arrested three times for that offense, according to a proposal moving its way through the Legislature.

The measure sponsored by Hernando County Republican Blaise Ingoglia, would subject a person found driving without a license to second-degree misdemeanor penalties of up to 60 days behind bars.

"We've seen multiple instances of people entering the state of Florida, whether they are legal residents, if they are here illegally, and driving without ever having a license," Ingoglia told members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice.

Florida does not issue driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants and, as part of 2023 legislation cracking down on undocumented immigration, the state does not recognize driver's licenses legally issued to undocumented immigrants from other states.

"I'm on the assumption that if you're driving without a valid license, you're out on the streets without valid auto insurance, and you're going to run into us or someone we know and now we're out whatever we're out," said Pinellas County Republican Ed Hooper.

"Too many people out there that are driving today without either a license or insurance and they're causing havoc in all our communities.

 

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