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South Dakota criminal charge

Driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled in South Dakota

Current through 2026 South Dakota legislative session

Driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled is a criminal offense under South Dakota law, defined by SDCL § 32-12-65. Its classification is not fixed: South Dakota assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.

Defined by SDCL § 32-12-65.

What is the penalty for driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled in South Dakota?

Penalties for Driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled
PenaltyRangeBasisAuthority
Jail / prisonup to 1 year (Driving while revoked — A person drives a motor vehicle on a public highway while their driving privilege is revoked.; county jail)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2
Fineup to $2,000 (Driving while revoked — A person drives a motor vehicle on a public highway while their driving privilege is revoked.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2
Jail / prisonup to 30 days (Driving while suspended — A person drives a motor vehicle on a public highway while their driving privilege is suspended.; county jail)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2
Fineup to $500 (Driving while suspended — A person drives a motor vehicle on a public highway while their driving privilege is suspended.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2
Jail / prisonup to 30 days (Driving while canceled — A person drives a motor vehicle on a public highway while their driving privilege is canceled.; county jail)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2
Fineup to $500 (Driving while canceled — A person drives a motor vehicle on a public highway while their driving privilege is canceled.)discretionarySDCL § 22-6-2

Applies to current.

How is driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled classified in South Dakota?

The classification depends on the circumstances:

Classification variants for Driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled
VariantClassificationWhen it appliesStatute
Driving while revokedClass 1 MisdemeanorA person drives a motor vehicle on a public highway while their driving privilege is revoked.SDCL § 32-12-65undefined
Driving while suspendedClass 2 MisdemeanorA person drives a motor vehicle on a public highway while their driving privilege is suspended.SDCL § 32-12-65undefined
Driving while canceledClass 2 MisdemeanorA person drives a motor vehicle on a public highway while their driving privilege is canceled.SDCL § 32-12-65undefined

Common questions about driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled in South Dakota

Is driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled a felony or a misdemeanor in South Dakota?

It depends on the circumstances: driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled ranges from a Class 2 Misdemeanor to a Class 1 Misdemeanor in South Dakota under SDCL § 32-12-65.

Driving while revoked: Class 1 Misdemeanor (SDCL § 32-12-65) · Driving while suspended: Class 2 Misdemeanor (SDCL § 32-12-65) · Driving while canceled: Class 2 Misdemeanor (SDCL § 32-12-65)

What are the penalties for driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled in South Dakota?

Penalties for driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled in South Dakota depend on how it is classified — from a Class 2 Misdemeanor up to a Class 1 Misdemeanor — with the ranges set by SDCL § 22-6-2; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.

Which South Dakota statute covers driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled?

Driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled is governed by SDCL § 32-12-65 (Driving while license is revoked, suspended, or canceled--Misdemeanors).

Legal terms used in this law

This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.