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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>54237</law_id><section_number>46.2-301</section_number><catch_line>Driving while license, permit, or privilege to drive suspended or revoked</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-278.8</reference><reference>16.1-69.48:1</reference><reference>19.2-327.15</reference><reference>46.2-2099.49</reference><reference>46.2-301.1</reference><reference>46.2-334.001</reference><reference>46.2-392</reference><reference>46.2-393</reference><reference>46.2-411</reference><reference>46.2-427</reference><reference>46.2-936</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Titling, Registration and Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Licensure of Drivers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Unlicensed Driving Prohibited</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In addition to any other <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> provided by this section, any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> administratively impounded or immobilized under the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Administrative impoundment of motor vehicle for certain driving while license suspended or revoked offenses; judicial impoundment upon conviction; penalty for permitting violation with one's vehicle" href="/46.2-301.1/">46.2-301.1</a> may, in the discretion of the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, be impounded or immobilized for an additional period of up to 90 days upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> of an offender for driving while his <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license, learner&#x2019;s permit, or <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to drive a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> has been (i) suspended or revoked for a violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Certain conduct punishable as involuntary manslaughter" href="/18.2-36.1/">18.2-36.1</a>, <a class="law" title="Maiming, etc., of another resulting from driving while intoxicated" href="/18.2-51.4/">18.2-51.4</a>, <a class="law" title="Driving motor vehicle, engine, etc., while intoxicated, etc" href="/18.2-266/">18.2-266</a>, <a class="law" title="Driving after forfeiture of license" href="/18.2-272/">18.2-272</a>, or <a class="law" title="Driving a commercial motor vehicle while intoxicated, etc" href="/46.2-341.24/">46.2-341.24</a> or a substantially similar <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> or <span class="dictionary">law</span> in any other <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> or (ii) administratively suspended under the provisions of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Administrative suspension of license or privilege to operate a motor vehicle" href="/46.2-391.2/">46.2-391.2</a>. However, if, at the time of the violation, the offender was driving a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> owned by another person, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall have no <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> over such <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> but may <span class="dictionary">order</span> the impoundment or immobilization of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> owned solely by the offender at the time of <span class="dictionary">arrest</span>. All costs of impoundment or immobilization, including removal or storage expenses, shall be paid by the offender prior to the release of his <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>. <a id="paragraph-199171" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-301/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Except as provided in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Limited operation of farm tractor by persons convicted of driving under influence of intoxicants or drugs" href="/46.2-304/">46.2-304</a>, no resident or <span class="dictionary">nonresident</span> (i) whose <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license, learner&#x2019;s permit, or <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to drive a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> has been suspended or revoked or (ii) who has been directed not to drive by any <span class="dictionary">court</span> or by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, or (iii) who has been forbidden, as prescribed by operation of any <span class="dictionary">statute</span> of the Commonwealth or a substantially similar <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> of any county, city or town, to operate a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> in the Commonwealth shall thereafter drive any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> or any self-propelled machinery or equipment on any <span class="dictionary">highway</span> in the Commonwealth until the period of such <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> or <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> has terminated or the <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> has been reinstated or a restricted license is issued pursuant to subsection E. For the purposes of this section, the phrase &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> or any self-propelled machinery or equipment&#x201D; shall not include <span class="dictionary">mopeds</span>. <a id="paragraph-199172" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-301/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> A violation of subsection B is a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-199173" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-301/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Upon a violation of subsection B, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall <span class="dictionary">suspend</span> the person&#x2019;s license or <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to drive a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> for the same period for which it had been previously suspended or revoked. In the event the person violated subsection B by driving during a period of <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> or <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> which was not for a definite period of time, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall <span class="dictionary">suspend</span> the person&#x2019;s license, permit or <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to drive for an additional period not to exceed 90 days, to commence upon the expiration of the previous <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> or <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> or to commence immediately if the previous <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> or <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> has expired. However, no such <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> shall extend beyond 10 years from the <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> date for such violation of subsection B, unless required by Article 6.1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Title" href="/46.2-341.1/">46.2-341.1</a> et seq.). <a id="paragraph-199174" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-301/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> Any person who is otherwise eligible for a restricted license may <span class="dictionary">petition</span> each <span class="dictionary">court</span> that suspended his license pursuant to subsection D for authorization for a restricted license, provided that the period of time for which the license was suspended by the <span class="dictionary">court</span> pursuant to subsection D, if measured from the date of <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, has expired, even though the <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> itself has not expired. A <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, for good cause shown, authorize the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of <span class="dictionary">Motor Vehicles</span> to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a restricted license for any of the purposes set forth in subsection E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Probation, education, and rehabilitation of person charged or convicted; person convicted under law of another state or federal law" href="/18.2-271.1/">18.2-271.1</a>. No restricted license shall be issued unless each <span class="dictionary">court</span> that issued a <span class="dictionary">suspension</span> of the person&#x2019;s license pursuant to subsection D authorizes the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> to <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a restricted license. Any restricted license issued pursuant to this subsection shall be in effect until the expiration of any and all <span class="dictionary">suspensions</span> issued pursuant to subsection D, except that it shall automatically terminate upon the expiration, <span class="dictionary">cancellation</span>, <span class="dictionary">suspension</span>, or <span class="dictionary">revocation</span> of the person&#x2019;s license or <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to drive for any other cause. No restricted license issued pursuant to this subsection shall permit a person to operate a commercial <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> as defined in the Commercial <span class="dictionary">Driver</span>&#x2019;s License Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Title" href="/46.2-341.1/">46.2-341.1</a> et seq.). The <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall forward to the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> a copy of its authorization entered pursuant to this subsection, which shall specifically enumerate the restrictions imposed and contain such information regarding the person to whom such a license is issued as is reasonably necessary to identify the person. The <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall also provide a copy of its authorization to the person, who may not operate a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> until receipt from the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> of a restricted license. A copy of the restricted license issued by the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall be carried at all times while operating a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>. <a id="paragraph-199175" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-301/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Any person who operates a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> or any self-propelled machinery or equipment in violation of the terms of a restricted license issued pursuant to subsection E of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Probation, education, and rehabilitation of person charged or convicted; person convicted under law of another state or federal law" href="/18.2-271.1/">18.2-271.1</a> is not guilty of a violation of this section but is guilty of a violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Driving after forfeiture of license" href="/18.2-272/">18.2-272</a>. <a id="paragraph-199176" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-301/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> The <span class="dictionary">court</span> may, in its discretion and where there have been no prior violations or <span class="dictionary">convictions</span> of this section within the past 10 years, dismiss the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> or warrant, where proof of compliance with this section is provided to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> on or before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> date, unless such person (i) possesses a commercial <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license or commercial learner&#x2019;s permit, as those terms are defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-341.4/">46.2-341.4</a>, or (ii) was operating a commercial <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-341.4/">46.2-341.4</a>. Where there has been a prior violation or violations, the <span class="dictionary">court</span>, in its discretion, may dismiss or <span class="dictionary">amend</span> the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> or warrant, where proof of substantial compliance has been provided to the <span class="dictionary">court</span>. <a id="paragraph-199177" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-301/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 46-347.1; 1952, c. 666; 1958, c. 541, &#xA7; 46.1-350; 1960, c. 364; 1962, c. 302; 1964, c. 239; 1966, cc. 546, 589; 1968, c. 494; 1970, c. 507; 1984, c. 780; 1985, c. 232; 1988, c. 859; 1989, c. 727; 1991, c. 64; 1992, c. 273; 1993, c. 24; 1994, cc. 359, 363; 1997, c. 691; 2000, cc. 956, 982; 2004, cc. 461, 801, 948; 2009, cc. 390, 764; 2010, c. 519; 2017, c. 700; 2020, cc. 964, 965, 1018; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 463; 2024, c. 543; 2025, c. 121.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
