Permitting unauthorized minor to drive
Florida Statute § 322.35
Summary verified against the 2026 Florida Statutes: October 1, 2026.
Quick Summary
A person may not cause or knowingly permit their child or ward under 18 to drive a motor vehicle on a highway without chapter 322 authorization. Establish the parent/guardian relationship, minor's age, actual highway driving, license/restriction status, and causation or knowing permission. A minor can lawfully drive with the required license and supervision, so age alone is insufficient. Permission involving another person's vehicle or an unrelated driver may fit §322.36 instead.
Summary sources
Classification, Points & Penalties
Classification, Points & Penalties
- Category
- Driver License
- Type
- Criminal Traffic
- Civil / Criminal
- Criminal
- Offense Classification
- Misdemeanor
- Degree
- 2nd Degree
- Points
- 0
- Fine / Penalty
- Court determined
- FLHSMV Code
- 616
Base fines are not the total payable amount. Costs, enforcement method, crash consequences, prior history, and court disposition can change penalties or points. A reported zero does not rule out license suspension or revocation.
Court & Enforcement
Court & Enforcement
- Mandatory Court
- Yes
- NTA Eligible
- Verify exact offense/subsection
- Custodial Arrest
- Verify exact offense/subsection
NTA means notice to appear. Eligibility is conditional; these fields do not independently authorize arrest. Confirm the exact statutory track, lawful arrest authority, traffic procedure, and agency policy.
Arrest authority guideCivil infractions resulting in death or serious bodily injury require a hearing under §318.19.