VC 12500 Driving a Motorcycle in California Without a License
According to California Vehicle Code § 12500 It is illegal in California to drive a motorcycle, or any motor-driven or motorized cycle, unless you have a valid driver’s license to do so.
However, a drivers license does not need to be issued in California for it to be valid. Nonresidents of California are permitted to drive in California as long as they are over the age of 18, and have, in their possession, a valid driver’s license from the jurisdiction in which they reside.
According to California Vehicle Code § 12503, if the jurisdiction in which the individual resides does not require driver’s licenses, then the individual is permitted to drive in California without a driver’s license, but not to exceed 30 days.
What Does “State of Domicile” Mean?
According to California Vehicle Code § 12505, an individual’s place of residence is determined by their “state of domicile,” which is “the state where a person has his or her true, fixed, and permanent home and principal residence and to which he or she has manifested the intention of returning whenever he or she is absent.”
This means that an individual is domiciled in the state in which they intend to live for an indefinite amount of time. If the individual came to California from Nevada with the intent to stay for a month and then return back to their home in Nevada, then their domicile, and residency, is in Nevada. Courts will typically look at evidence such as: where an individual is registered to vote; where an individual pays taxes; and whether the individual pays resident tuition at a university in order to establish an individual’s state of residency.
What is Vehicle Code § 12500 et seq.?
Under California Vehicle Code 12500(a), a person may not drive a motor vehicle upon a highway, unless the person then holds a valid driver’s license issued under this code, except those persons who are expressly exempted under this code.
What Are The Penalties for VC 12500 Driving a Motorcycle in California Without a License?
VC 12500(a) driving without a valid license can be charged as either a California infraction or a California misdemeanor.
The misdemeanor penalties for driving without a license can include:
- Up to six (6) months in county jail and/or
- A fine of up to one thousand dollars ($1,000)
What Does the Court Need to Prove Under VC 12500?
In order for the court to prove that you are guilty of driving without a valid license, they must establish two elements:
- You drove on a street or highway, and
- At the time you drove, you did not hold a validly issued driver’s license.
Motorcycle Accident: No Motorcycle License and No Insurance: Proposition 213 Uninsured Motorist
Under California law, drivers are required to carry liability insurance when operating a motor vehicle on a public road. If you were involved in an accident, due to the fault of another, while operating a motor vehicle without liability insurance you likely fall under “Proposition 213”. Under California law, uninsured motorists involved in traffic collisions within the State of California, whether or not the collision was caused by the uninsured motorist, are not allowed to recover general damages such as pain and suffering.
If you have been charged with VC 12500, KAASS Law may be able to help you either dismiss or reduce your VC 12500 charges to a less-serious infraction. If you were involved in a motorcycle accident you were both unlicensed and uninsured at the time of the collision, we further invite you to call our Los Angeles Motorcycle accident lawyer at (310) 943-1171 any time!
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