Zimmerman's Bill to Hold Unlicensed Drivers Accountable Moves to Senate

The bill comes after a southeast Indiana man was killed in a crash last year that involved an unlicensed driver.

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana House passed State Rep. Alex Zimmerman's (R-North Vernon) bill enhancing criminal penalties for unlicensed drivers.

Under current law, operating a vehicle without ever receiving a license is a Class C misdemeanor, which can be enhanced to a Class A misdemeanor if the individual has a prior unrelated conviction. Zimmerman said his bill would add two new criminal enhancements of up to a Level 5 or 6 felony if the unlicensed driver causes bodily injury, catastrophic injury, or death.

"Our roads are used every day, and they need to be as safe as possible so Hoosiers can get from point A to point B," Zimmerman said. "These increased penalties could help discourage unlicensed drivers from getting on the road and putting others at risk."

Between 2020 and 2024, the Office of Fiscal Management Analysis 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. 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.

Zimmerman's bill would also protect against fraudulent behavior by adding criminal penalties to those who intentionally transfer licenses or permits to unlicensed drivers. Additionally, unlicensed drivers found at fault in an accident would have to pay the insurance deductible of any accident victim found not at fault.

House Bill 1114 passed through the House with bipartisan support and now moves to the Senate for further consideration. To learn more about the bill and watch session, visit iga.in.gov.