I got a DUI without a license. Can I apply for a license now?

There are separate consequences for illegal drivers and DUI law violations. Each state has different laws and different consequences for violations.  A person who is caught driving without a license usually must wait a number of years before being allowed to even apply for a license. An illegal driver may also have to participate in unique driver’s education classes or training specifically geared for illegal drivers.

Many states suspend a driver’s license following a DUI violation.  A driver who has a DUI conviction would likely have his license suspended and must wait the required amount of time before he can have it reinstated. In the case where a driver doesn’t have a license at the time of the violation, the driver would have to wait the same amount of time as a driver with a license would have to wait before getting his license.

Some examples of possible time a driver must wait following a DUI are:

• In Illinois a driver must wait one year after the first offense, five years after the second offense, and ten years after the third offense.
• In New York a driver must wait a minimum of 6 months for the first offense, and a minimum of one year for the second and the third offenses.
• In Texas a driver will have a license suspension from one to two years depending on offense.
• In Minnesota, after a third DUI, a driver will have his license suspended indefinitely until he completes court-required alcohol treatment and rehabilitation.

Whether a court would “stack” the penalties for driving without a license and for the DUI offense will depend on the state and on the judge deciding the punishment.  A judge could penalize a driver for just one offense, or for both. A criminal law attorney in your area could help you sort out the possible consequences for violations in your particular situation.