Unlawful Use of a Driver License
Arrest exception may applyMisusing a genuine license or knowingly possessing a canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified license.
Florida Statute
§ 322.32
Unlawful Use of a Driver License
Verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: September 16, 2026
Warrantless Arrest Authority
Conditional authority—not a blanket exception for every charge on this page. PC means probable cause. Establish probable cause and the applicable facts; open the entry for complete requirements. Arrest authority alone does not authorize entry into a home.
Criminal traffic offenses connected with a crash
Required facts
- The officer investigates personally at the crash scene; AND
- The person is a driver of a vehicle involved in the crash; AND
- The investigation establishes reasonable and probable grounds for an offense under chapter 316, 320, OR 322 connected with the crash.
Limits & qualifications
- The crash nexus and personal scene investigation matter; do not apply this authority to an unrelated traffic offense.
Authority
Quick Summary
Select the §322.32 act: knowingly possessing/displaying a canceled, suspended, revoked, or disqualified license; lending it or permitting unlawful use; representing another person’s license as one’s own; refusing lawful surrender; or obtaining photographic licenses in different names. Document the act and any required knowledge, notice, or lawful demand. Possessing someone else’s genuine license for an innocent purpose is not the same as claiming it as one’s own. Forged credentials and application fraud may invoke §322.212 instead.
Summary verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: October 1, 2026.
Summary sources
Classification Matrix
Use this as a quick classification reference. Specific facts, statutory circumstances, and charging allegations may affect the applicable result.
Selected unlawful-use track
F.S. 322.32
Prove the charged subsection's conduct and required mental state.
Elements of the Offense
Elements of the Offense
Elements marked AND are cumulative. Elements marked OR identify statutory alternatives; one applicable alternative must be established when that theory is charged. Conditional elements apply only to the identified statutory track.
- Element 1AND — Required
AND — all applicable requirements
The defendant committed at least ONE charged act under 322.32: knowingly displayed or possessed a canceled, revoked, suspended, or disqualified license; lent or knowingly permitted another's use; represented another's license as their own; refused lawful surrender; permitted unlawful use; obtained differently named photographic licenses; OR violated another chapter duty as charged.
Plain language: Prove this requirement and any alternatives stated within it.
- Element 2AND — Required
AND — all applicable requirements
Prove every knowledge, operative status, lawful-demand, identity, or chapter-duty fact required by that selected subsection.
Plain language: Prove this requirement and any alternatives stated within it.
Important Definitions
Important Definitions
Knowledge of license status
Under (1), qualifying citation, admission, notice, or other evidence may establish knowing possession or display of a canceled, suspended, or revoked license.
Additional Notes
Additional Notes
Quick Reference
Identify the exact subsection and supporting facts. Do not use the general chapter-duty clause without identifying the actual prohibited act or omitted duty.
Classification
Select the statutory act; a genuine borrowed license differs from counterfeit-document fraud. Consult the classification rows for the exact charged track; prove the additional facts for any enhancement.
Official Source
Verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes, section 322.32, on September 16, 2026. Apply the law effective on the incident date; the five-year frequency analysis is not a substitute for current charging requirements.