driving virginia
Driving without physical copy of License
<p>If you have a license and drive but forget your license and get pulled over what happens? Do you get a penalty for forgetting it at your house?</p>

<p><code><strong>If you have a license and drive but forget your license and get pulled over what happens?</strong></code></p>

<p>You could receive a summons or citation (a.k.a. "ticket") for failing to carry a driver's license. <a href="http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter1/section46.2-104/">Section § 46.2-104 of the Virginia Code</a> states that it is a traffic infraction with a $10 fine to not have your license while driving.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>The operator of any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer being
  operated on the highways in the Commonwealth, shall have in his
  possession: (i) the registration card issued by the Department or the
  registration card issued by the state or country in which the motor
  vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is registered, and (ii) <strong>his driver's
  license</strong>, learner's permit, or temporary driver's permit.</p>
  
  <p>Every person licensed by the Department as a driver . . .  who fails to carry his license. . .  for the vehicle which he
  operates, shall be guilty of a traffic infraction and upon conviction
  punished by a fine of ten dollars. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>(Emphasis added.)</p>

<p><code><strong>Do you get a penalty for forgetting it at your house?</strong></code></p>

<p>Yes, if you have a valid license that you left at home, you can get the case dismissed by showing the license to the the court (presumably a clerk), but you will still have to pay "court costs." </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>However, if any person summoned to appear before a court for failure
  to display his license . . .  presents, before
  the return date of the summons, to the court a license or permit
  issued to him prior to the time the summons was issued . . . or appears pursuant to the
  summons and produces before the court a license or permit issued to
  him prior to the time the summons was issued . . . , he shall, upon payment of all applicable court
  costs, have complied with the provisions of this section.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter1/section46.2-104/">Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-104 (2016).</a></p>
