Any penalties for not obtaining my driver's California license after 1 year of becoming a resident?
Hello. I became a resident and just got my SSN. I have a trip and will be away for 5 months. Any penalties for applying until then to get my driver's license?
Nathan’s Answer
If you are ticketed, there may be a mandatory court appearance required before a judge. This means you can't utilize a trial by affidavit procedure since you'll have to appear and plead guilty or not guilty. Also, driving while unlicensed can theoretically be treated as a misdemeanor, not an infraction, which could impact your licensing needs if you are employed in a profession that requires a separate license.
