Driving While License Invalid, DWLI Arrest

What is it? DWLI, Driving While License Invalid, is where an individual drives a car while their Texas driver's license is invalid.

What makes it illegal?  The Texas Criminal Penal Code 521.457. Driving While license Invalid indicates a person commits an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle on a highway after the person's driver's license has been canceled or during a period that the person's driver's license is suspended or revoked under any law of this state or while the person's driver's license is expired.

What are the Punishments? An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by: (1) a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500; and (2) confinement in county jail for a term of not less than 72 hours or more than six months. If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that the person has previously been convicted of an offense under this section or an offense under Section 601.371(a), as that law existed before September 1, 2003, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor.

Common Criminal Cases Involving DWLI, Driving While License Invalid, Arrests: The most common DWLI, Driving While License Invalid, cases and DWLI, Driving While License Invalid, arrests involve an individual driving after a prior offense has suspended his or her texas driver's license, such as a DWI or other tickets.

TEXAS TRANSPORTATION CODE, TITLE 7.  521.457. Driving While license Invalid

521.457. Driving While license Invalid (Suspended) (a) A person commits an offense if the person operates a motor vehicle on a highway: (1) after the person's driver's license has been canceled under this chapter if the person does not have a license that was subsequently issued under this chapter; (2) during a period that the person's driver's license or privilege is suspended or revoked under any law of this state; (3) while the person's driver's license is expired if the license expired during a period of suspension; or (4) after renewal of the person's driver's license has been denied under any law of this state, if the person does not have a driver's license subsequently issued under this chapter. (b) A person commits an offense if the person is the subject of an order issued under any law of this state that prohibits the person from obtaining a driver's license and the person operates a motor vehicle on a highway. (c) It is not a defense to prosecution under this section that the person did not receive actual notice of a suspension imposed as a result of a conviction for an offense under Section 521.341. (d) Except as provided by Subsection (c), it is an affirmative defense to prosecution of an offense, other than an offense under Section 521.341, that the person did not receive actual notice of a cancellation, suspension, revocation, or prohibition order relating to the person's license. For purposes of this section, actual notice is presumed if the notice was mailed in accordance with law.

Read the Full Penal Code Section

 

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