What are the Penalties for Driving with a Suspended License in Connecticut?

Lots of folks don’t take license suspensions seriously–they feel submitting to the punishment is too inconvenient, or no one will catch them driving anyway. But driving with a suspended license is a big deal, and a criminal offense in Connecticut. If caught, you face fines, jail time, and more penalties. Let’s break it down.

The Basics

If caught driving with a suspended license for the first time, you’ll get:¹²³

• Fine of $150-200
• Up to 90 days in jail
• License revoked for 1 year

Penalties get worse if you’re caught again–for example, a second offense means:²

• Fine of $200-600
• License revoked for 5 years
• Up to 1 year in jail

It Depends What Got Your License Suspended

Penalties vary based on why your license was suspended in the first place.³ For example:

• Suspended for DUI/DWI? 30-day mandatory minimum jail sentence for first offense.
• Suspended for reckless driving? Fine up to $1,000, jail up to 1 year.
• Suspended for excessive speeding tickets? Fine up to $500, jail up to 90 days.

Bottom line–the offense leading to your suspension matters. Talk to a lawyer to understand your specific penalties.

Getting Caught Again Makes Things Worse

Multiple offenses stack up penalties:⁴

• 2nd offense: Fine up to $1,000, jail up to 1 year
• 3rd offense: Fine up to $2,000, jail up to 2 years
• 4th+ offense: Fine up to $5,000, jail up to 5 years

Yikes! As you can see, it’s absolutely not worth the risk to drive in Connecticut with a suspended license.

Restoring Your License Gets Harder

Getting caught driving suspended makes restoring your license later more difficult. Even after your original suspension ends, you may not get your license back due to the additional offense.⁵

Specific Connecticut Laws

There are 3 main laws dealing with suspended licenses in Connecticut:⁴

• Section 14-215 – Suspended for things like unpaid tickets, lapsed insurance, etc.
• Section 14-215a – Suspended for reckless/negligent driving.
• Section 14-215b – Suspended for DUI/DWI.

Penalties under 14-215 for a first offense include:⁴

• Fine of $75-350
• Community service
• Up to 90 days jail

The Bottom Line

Driving in Connecticut with a suspended license brings big penalties and criminal charges. Fines, jail time, and license revocation stack up fast. Additional offenses make things exponentially worse. Simply put–don’t do it. Get your license back before getting behind the wheel.

-Sarah J.

References

1. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2003/olrdata/tra/rpt/2003-r-0630.htm

2. https://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-r-0636.htm

3. https://www.ruaneattorneys.com/ct-criminal-lawyer/traffic/common-violations/driving-under-suspension/

4. https://markshermanlaw.com/connecticut-traffic-lawyer/operating-under-suspended-license/

5. https://ladydui.com/implied-consent-refusing-testing/consequences-driving-suspended-license/