TRENTON, N.J. – Two Jersey Shore lawmakers are pushing to strengthen penalties for drivers who have never been issued a valid driver’s license, saying tougher measures are needed to deter repeat offenders and improve roadway safety.
Assemblymen Gregory P. McGuckin and Paul Kanitra, both Republicans representing Monmouth and Ocean Counties, introduced legislation that would raise fines and add mandatory jail time for individuals caught driving without ever having obtained a license.
Under current law, unlicensed driving carries a fine between $200 and $500 and up to 60 days in jail. The new bill would increase those penalties to a $500 fine for a first offense, $750 and up to five days in jail for a second offense, and $1,000 plus 10 days in jail for a third or subsequent offense. In cases where an unlicensed driver causes bodily injury in a crash, the court would be required to impose 45 to 180 days of imprisonment.
The measure also directs courts to order the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to withhold issuing a license for at least 180 days after conviction, effectively delaying any attempt by an offender to become licensed.
McGuckin and Kanitra said the bill targets a persistent problem on New Jersey roads — individuals who repeatedly drive without ever taking the necessary steps to become licensed or insured. Law enforcement officials have long argued that unlicensed drivers are more likely to be involved in serious or fatal accidents.
The proposed legislation maintains the existing exemption for cases involving administrative or clerical errors by the Motor Vehicle Commission, meaning drivers affected by paperwork issues would not be penalized under the enhanced penalties.
If enacted, the bill would take effect immediately, making New Jersey’s penalties among the toughest in the region for operating a vehicle without ever having been licensed.
The bill would increase fines and add jail time for motorists who have never been licensed to drive in New Jersey or any other state.
