Habitual Traffic Violators
IC 9-30-10-4 — the count runs over a ten year period, by offense date
- Two judgments within a ten year period for the gravest driving offenses, among them reckless homicide or manslaughter with a vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident with injury or death, and impaired driving resulting in death.
- Three judgments within a ten year period for offenses including operating while intoxicated, per se alcohol or drug driving, reckless driving, drag racing, leaving the scene, resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, and any felony involving driving.
- Ten judgments within a ten year period for any reportable traffic violation other than parking or equipment, at least one of them from the lists above, driving on a suspension that followed a conviction, or driving having never been licensed.
Who handles this in Indiana: legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Indiana directory.
Any of those makes a person a habitual violator. Judgments from other jurisdictions with substantially similar elements count, and the period is measured by offense dates.
| A habitual violator who | Level |
|---|---|
| A habitual violator whoDrives knowing privileges are suspended or restricted under the chapter | LevelLevel 6 felony |
| A habitual violator whoDrives after privileges were forfeited for life, after June 30, 2015 | LevelLevel 5 felony |
| A habitual violator whoCauses serious bodily injury, catastrophic injury or death while driving | LevelLevel 5 felony |
A suspension notice mailed first class, or sent electronically by preference, to the last address in the bureau's records raises a rebuttable presumption that the driver knew. Where the new offense causes catastrophic injury or death, the bureau suspends privileges for life.
Sources for this section (3)
- IC 9-30-10-4 — Habitual violators
- IC 9-30-10-16 — Operating a motor vehicle while privileges are suspended; Level 6 felony
- IC 9-30-10-17 — Operating motor vehicle while privileges are forfeited for life; habitual traffic violator who causes bodily injury or death; penalties
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Indiana attorney.