Relating to the penalties for persons who operate a motor vehicle while their operating privileges are denied, canceled, suspended, revoked, or barred

Under current law, a person who operates a motor vehicle while the person’s driver’s license or operating privilege is denied, canceled, suspended, or revoked under Code chapter 321 (motor vehicles and law of the road) or while the person’s driver’s license is suspended, denied, or revoked under Code chapter 321A (motor vehicle financial responsibility) commits a simple misdemeanor. These simple misdemeanors are punishable by confinement for no more than days and a fine of at least $250 but not more than $1,500 (rather than the default simple misdemeanor fine range between $105 and $855). The sentence imposed for such a violation under Code chapter 321 cannot be suspended. If a person operates a motor vehicle while the person’s driver’s license is suspended, denied, revoked, or barred due to a violation of Code chapter 321J (operating while intoxicated (OWI)), the person commits a serious misdemeanor punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of $1,000 (rather than the default serious misdemeanor fine range between $430 and $2,560).8A. The scheduled fine for such a violation is $250. The bill makes a second violation a simple misdemeanor and a third or subsequent violation a serious misdemeanor. A simple misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than days and a fine of at least $105 but not more than $855. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560.218.8C (miscellaneous scheduled violations). The underlying driver’s license sanction of a person convicted for driving while denied, canceled, suspended, revoked, or barred under the bill would be extended in accordance with current law.