Zimmerman's Bill to Hold Unlicensed Drivers Accountable Moves to Governor's Desk

INDIANAPOLIS - State Rep. Alex Zimmerman's (R-North Vernon) bill enhancing criminal penalties for unlicensed drivers now moves to the governor's desk for consideration.

Zimmerman said his bill would add two new criminal enhancements for those who drive without ever receiving a license of up to a Level 5 or 6 felony if the unlicensed driver causes bodily injury, catastrophic injury, or death.

Under current law, the penalty is only a Class C misdemeanor, which can be enhanced to a Class A misdemeanor if the individual has a prior unrelated conviction.

Last March, Brad Castner, a 27-year-old man from Holton, was killed in a head-on collision with an unlicensed driver. Zimmerman said with no enhancements in Indiana Code, and no other facts to allow a prosecutor to charge a different crime, the driver could be charged with at most a Class A misdemeanor.

"This increased penalty is a deterrent to ensure those who do not have a license refrain from getting behind the wheel," Zimmerman said. "What happened to Brad and the Castner family is a tragedy, and hopefully this legislation can prevent these incidents from happening in the future. Operating on our roads is a privilege, not a right, and our laws should reflect these serious offenses."

Between 2020 and 2024, the Indiana Office of Court Services recorded 2,697 convictions for operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license in Indiana as either a Class A or Class C misdemeanor.  Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that unlicensed drivers accounted for nearly 11,000 fatal crashes in 2021.

To learn more House Enrolled Act 1114 and watch session, visit iga.in.gov.