Moving an Unregistered Vehicle

In Delaware it is illegal to driver or operate a motor vehicle without it being properly tagged and registered. If you are caught driving an untagged or unregistered vehicle in Delaware you may be arrested, face jail time and have your driving privileges suspended or revoked. If you have been charged with operating an unregistered vehicle in Delaware it is important that you call a Delaware Unregistered Vehicle Lawyer today.

Call me, Delaware Unregistered Automobile Violation Lawyer Brian J. Chapman. My Wilmington, Delaware traffic violation law office can be reached at 302-656-2528.

Delaware Laws Regarding Vehicle Registration

§ 2115. Violations of registration provisions.

No person shall:

(1) Operate or, being the owner of any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, knowingly permit the operation upon a highway of any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer which is not registered or which does not have attached thereto and displayed thereon the number plate or plates assigned thereto by the Department and unexpired registration plate or plates, subject to the exemptions allowed in this title, or under temporary or limited permits as otherwise provided by this title;

(2) Display or cause or permit to be displayed or have in possession any registration card, number plate or registration plate, knowing the same to be fictitious or to have been cancelled, revoked, suspended or altered;

(3) Lend to, or knowingly permit the use by, one not entitled thereto any registration card, number plate or registration plate issued to the person so lending or permitting the use thereof;

(4) Fail or refuse to surrender to the Department upon demand any registration card, number plate or registration plate which has been suspended, cancelled or revoked as provided in this title;

(5) Use a false or fictitious name or address in any application for the registration or inspection of any vehicle, or for any renewal or duplicate thereof, or for any certificate or transfer of title, or knowingly make a false statement, knowingly conceal a material fact or otherwise commit a fraud in any such application;

(6) Drive or move or, being the owner, cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved, on any highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in such unsafe condition as to endanger any person or which is equipped in any manner in violation of this title, but the provisions of this title with respect to equipment on vehicles shall not apply to implements of husbandry, road machinery, road rollers or farm tractors except as herein made applicable;

(7) Own or operate any qualified motor vehicle as defined under the International Registration Plan, as authorized in Chapter 4 of this title, not properly displaying an apportioned plate with required registration credentials, or operate a qualified motor vehicle without having in that person’s possession a trip permit registration as authorized in § 2103(6) of this title. Any person who violates this subsection shall, for the first offense, be fined not less than $115 nor more than $345, and for each subsequent offense not less than $345 nor more than $575. In addition, such person shall also be fined in an amount which is equal to the cost of registering the vehicle at its gross weight at the time of the offense or at the maximum legal limit, whichever is less, which fine shall be suspended if, within 5 days of the offense, the court is presented with a valid registration card for the gross weight at the time of the offense or the maximum legal limit for such vehicle.

(8) Operate or tow any farm vehicle upon the highways or roads of this State unless properly licensed by the Department, or being the owner of any farm vehicle knowingly permit the operation or towing of any farm vehicle upon the highways or roads of this State unless operated or towed by a person who is properly licensed by the Department, whether or not the farm vehicle is registered, or is exempt from inspection and registration pursuant to § 2113 of this title;

(9) Do any act forbidden or fail to perform any act required under this chapter.

Delaware Penalties for Operating an Unregistered Vehicle

§ 2116. Penalties.

(a) Whoever violates this chapter shall, for the first offense, be fined not less than $10 nor more than $100 or be imprisoned not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days or both. For each subsequent like offense, the person shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $200 or imprisoned not less than 90 days nor more than 6 months or both, in addition to which any person, being the operator or owner of any vehicle which requires a registration fee which is calculated upon the gross weight of the vehicle and any load thereon shall be fined at a rate double that which is set forth in this subsection and be imprisoned as provided herein or both. In addition, such person shall also be fined in an amount which is equal to the cost of registering the vehicle at its gross weight at the time of the offense or at the maximum legal limit, whichever is less; which fine shall be suspended, if within 5 days of the offense the court is presented with a valid registration card for the gross weight at the time of the offense for the maximum legal limit for such vehicle.

(b)(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, whoever violates § 2115(1)-(5) of this title shall, for the first offense, be fined not less than $50 nor more than $200, be imprisoned not less than 30 days nor more than 90 days, or be penalized by both fine and imprisonment. For each subsequent like offense, such person shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $300, be imprisoned not less than 90 days nor more than 6 months, or be penalized by both fine and imprisonment.

(2) Any owner or operator of a vehicle which requires a registration fee which is calculated upon the gross weight of the vehicle, and any load thereon, and who violates § 2115(1)-(5) of this title, shall be fined at a rate double that which is set forth in this subsection, or be imprisoned as provided herein, or be both fined and imprisoned. In addition, such person shall also be fined an amount which is equal to the costs of registering the vehicle either at its gross weight at the time of the offense, or at the maximum legal limit, whichever is less. Such fine shall be suspended if, within 5 days of the offense, the court is presented with a valid registration card for the actual gross weight of the vehicle at the time of the offense.

(d) For any violation of the registration provisions of § 2102 or § 2115 of this subchapter and in absence of any traffic offenses relating to driver impairment, the violator’s copy of the traffic summons shall act as that violator’s authority to drive the vehicle involved by the most direct route from the place of arrest to either the violator’s residence or the violator’s current place of abode.

Contact a Delaware Vehicle Registration Attorney

If you have been arrested for operating an unregistered vehicle in Delaware call me, Delaware Unregistered Vehicle Violation Lawyer Brian J. Chapman. My New Castle County, Delaware traffic offense law office can be reached at 302-656-2528. You can also click here to email Newark Delaware Unregistered Vehicle Lawyer Brian J. Chapman.