{"data":{"id":"us-in/ic-9-24-18-1","jurisdiction":"us-in","citation":"IC 9-24-18-1","heading":"Driving without a license","body":"Sec. 1. (a) An individual, except an individual exempted under IC 9-24-1-7, who knowingly or intentionally operates a motor vehicle upon a highway and has never received a valid driver's license commits a Class C misdemeanor. However, the offense is a:\n(1) Class A misdemeanor if the individual has a prior unrelated conviction under this section;\n(2) Class A misdemeanor if the operation of the motor vehicle results in bodily injury;\n(3) Level 6 felony if the operation of the motor vehicle results in serious bodily injury; or\n(4) Level 5 felony if the operation of the motor vehicle results in the death or catastrophic injury of another person.\n(b) In a prosecution under this section, the burden is on the defendant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant:\n(1) had been issued a driver's license or permit that was valid; or\n(2) was operating a motor driven cycle;\nat the time of the alleged offense. However, it is not a defense under subdivision (2) if the defendant was operating the motor driven cycle in violation of IC 9-21-11-12.","path":["TITLE 9. MOTOR VEHICLES","ARTICLE 24. DRIVERS LICENSES","Chapter 18. General Penalty Provisions"],"source_url":"https://iga.in.gov/ic/2026/Title_9.html#9-24-18-1","current_through":"2026","vintage":"2026","retrieved_at":"2026-07-08T17:54:09Z","sha256":"3a982a3dae0887ff1cefdf4e3b0aba1bc7cc45e156e7ea3152a8e12774f3d277","source_id":"us-in","stale":false,"prev":"us-in/ic-9-24-18-0.5","next":"us-in/ic-9-24-18-2"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}