Under Indiana law, a driver may earn the label of habitual traffic violator. This designation opens the driver up to harsher punishments for traffic violations.
The State of Indiana explains a habitual traffic violator occurs when a person has multiple and repeated traffic offenses within a 10-year period. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will assign the designation based on driving records.
Types of offenses
Not every offense will qualify you to be an HTV. An automatic designation occurs if you cause injury or death two times. You may end up with the designation of driving drunk, reckless driving or leaving the scene of the accident. Keep in mind that your incident needs to cause injury or death to someone else. These offenses must happen within a 10-year period.
Penalties
The punishment for being an HTV is automatic and mandatory. You will lose your license for at least 10 years. If your offenses involved a DUI and you killed someone as a result, then you lose your license for life.
Other situations
You may also get the HTV designation even if you do not injure or kill anyone. It depends on your offenses. Major offenses, such as reckless driving, resisting law enforcement, using a vehicle in the commission of a felony and DUIs, can result in an HTV label if you have three of them in 10 years. The mandatory punishment is a 10-year license suspension.
If you have nine other traffic violations plus one major offense in a 10-year period, you will also qualify as an HTV and lose your license for 10 years.
Remember that the HTV designation is from the BMV. The court also will issue punishment for any offenses you incur.
