Iowa Code 321.218 – Operating without valid driver’s license or when disqualified — penalties
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1. A person whose driver‘s license or operating privilege has been denied, canceled, suspended, or revoked as provided in this chapter or as provided in section 252J.8, and who operates a motor vehicle upon the highways of this state while the license or privilege is denied, canceled, suspended, or revoked, commits a simple misdemeanor. In addition to any other penalties, the punishment imposed for a violation of this subsection shall include assessment of a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than one thousand five hundred dollars.
Attorney's Note
Under the Iowa Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Serious misdemeanor | up to 1 year | between $430 and $2,560 |
| Simple misdemeanor | up to 30 days | between $105 and $855 |
Terms Used In Iowa Code 321.218
- Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
- Department: means the state department of transportation. See Iowa Code 321H.2
- Driver: means a person who operates a motor vehicle for the transportation of railroad workers in the motor vehicle on behalf of a railroad worker transportation company, whether the person is employed by the company for wages or drives for the company as an independent contractor. See Iowa Code 327F.39
- Motor vehicle: means a self-propelled vehicle purchased or leased in this state, except as provided in section 322G. See Iowa Code 322G.2
- Operate: means to ride in or on, other than as a passenger, use, or control the operation of an all-terrain vehicle in any manner, whether or not the all-terrain vehicle is moving. See Iowa Code 321I.1
- Person: includes any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, joint adventure, or association, and the plural as well as the singular number. See Iowa Code 321H.2
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
- Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
- Vehicle: means any vehicle as defined in chapter 321. See Iowa Code 321H.2
- year: means twelve consecutive months. See Iowa Code 4.1
2. The sentence imposed under this section shall not be suspended by the court, notwithstanding section 907.3 or any other statute.
3. a. The department, upon receiving the record of the conviction of a person under this section upon a charge of operating a motor vehicle while the license of the person is suspended or revoked, shall, except for licenses suspended under section 252J.8, section 321.210, subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (3), or section 321.210A or 321.513, extend the period of suspension or revocation for an additional like period or for one year, whichever period is shorter.
b. If the department receives a record of a conviction of a person under this section but the person’s driving record does not indicate what the original grounds of suspension were, the period of suspension under this subsection shall be for a period not to exceed six months.
4. A person who operates a commercial motor vehicle upon the highways of this state when disqualified from operating the commercial motor vehicle under section 321.208 or the imminent hazard provisions of 49 C.F.R. §383.52 commits a serious misdemeanor if a commercial driver’s license or commercial learner’s permit is required for the person to operate the commercial motor vehicle.
5. The department, upon receiving the record of a conviction of a person under this section upon a charge of operating a commercial motor vehicle while the person is disqualified, shall extend the period of disqualification for an additional like period or for the time period specified in section 321.208, whichever is longer.