What happens when you're caught driving with an expired drivers license in California?

Question

The reason for being pulled over was for unsafe speed. 45 mph in a 35 mph zone.

Does anybody know what the penalty is exactly?

Answer 1

Your question provides limited information, but I will assume that the worst happened and you got issued a citation for both the expired driver's license and for the speeding.

Let's take the speeding first. [CA Vehicle Code § 22350]. I looked at the California Superior Court Traffic Bail Schedule for my county and it looks like the bail amount for driving 10 MPH over the speed limit is $99.00+ penalty assessment (normal road) or $210.00+ penalty assessment (construction zone). Contact your local traffic court for fines specific to your county.

This violation will give you +1 point on your CA DMV driving record. However, if you have not received any other traffic citations within the past 18 months, you may be eligible to take Traffic School. Contact the traffic court to see what your options are. If you complete the Traffic School and give your certificate to the Traffic Court, the Traffic Court will not report the violation to the DMV. You will still have to pay money, but a clean DMV record goes a long way. In some counties, you can even take the Traffic School online.

As for the expired license issue, [CA Vehicle Code §12500(a)], if an officer catches you driving with an expired license, the officer may impound your vehicle for up to 30 days or until you get your license renewed, whichever comes first. That violation is actually a correctable violation, or what they call a "Fix-it" violation. You have to go your local DMV and pay the standard fee to get your license renewed. Make sure you take your traffic citation with you to show the DMV clerk. The DMV office has the authority to certify that you corrected that violation. Make sure you get a receipt and show it to the Traffic Court. The court will request an administrative fee of approximately $10 to handle the correctable violation. An expired license violation will not add points to your DMV record.

You have to take care of this before the court date that is written on your citation. There should be a phone number on your citation for you to contact the Traffic Court if you have questions.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

California honors an international driver's license for visiting foreigners, as long as you're over 18 and the license is valid (not lapsed). But, you must obtain a California driver's license within 10 days of establishing residence in California. When you get pulled over, the officer will ask you how long you have been in the state and if you're a resident. If you say you're visiting, he may just clarify the law to you and let you go. If you say you've been living here for more than 10 days, he will probably write you a ticket, and you'll have to obtain the license and go to court to prove it to a judge.

Answer 4

In addition to the preceding answer:

If you have another valid license from a different jurisdiction, nothing. I know someone who grabbed the wrong license when he left home. The same is true if you have a license issued by the US State Department Protocol Office -- even if that is expired, so long as you still have diplomatic immunity.

If you are an active-duty military member (in Virginia, also an active-duty US Foreign Service Officer) many, perhaps most or all, states and certainly VA and FL, grant 4 years' grace to renew the license. So you can validly drive on a recently expired one anywhere. The rule as to California-issued driving license for military personnel is here: http://www.chp.ca.gov/html/militarydrivers.html It says that a "current" Calif. license is needed, without elaboration.

Failing one of those exceptions, you have driven unlicensed and probably uninsured, and the penalty applied depends on the discretion of the judge. And perhaps his or her evaluation of your degree of intent and guilt.

Answer 5

Actually, in California, if you show up in traffic court, it will probably be dismissed. The basic speed law states not to drive faster than what is safe. Go and get your license renewed and be able to have all your ducks in a row when you show up in court. Good luck.

Answer 6

"If your license has expired, it is illegal for you to drive. There are no late fees to renew your license. While there are no penalties, you may be cited by a police officer for driving with an expired driver license."

Answer 7

Another ticket and possibly car impounded.
Hope you have a good paying job to pay for the fines.

Answer 8

i dont know
but they should kick youin the balls
we should have more punishments like that rather than fines
i bet it work better