Driving While Suspended
75 Pa.C.S. 1543 — a $200 fine, and jail when the suspension was for DUI or a refusal
In Pennsylvania, driving on a highway or trafficway after a suspension, revocation or cancellation of the operating privilege has begun, and before the privilege is restored, is a summary offense with a fine of $200.
| When the suspension is for DUI or a refusal | The sentence |
|---|---|
| When the suspension is for DUI or a refusalA first violation | The sentenceA summary offense, a $500 fine and 60 days |
| When the suspension is for DUI or a refusalA second violation | The sentenceA summary offense, a $1,000 fine and 90 days |
| When the suspension is for DUI or a refusalA third or later violation | The sentenceA misdemeanor of the third degree, a $2,500 fine and not less than six months |
Alcohol or drugs in the blood during that suspension raises every step. If the driver on a DUI or refusal suspension has a blood alcohol of .02% or more, has any Schedule I or nonprescribed Schedule II or III controlled substance in the blood, or refuses testing, a first violation is a $1,000 fine and 90 days, a second is a misdemeanor of the third degree with a $2,500 fine and not less than six months, and a third or later is a misdemeanor of the first degree with a $5,000 fine and not less than two years.
On a conviction, the department adds a one-year suspension if the driver was under suspension on the date of the violation, or a two-year revocation if the driver was under revocation.
Before filing the citation, the officer verifies the reason for the suspension with the department and cites the subsection that fits it.
Sources for this section (1)
- 75 Pa.C.S. 1543 — Driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.