District Of Columbia § 50-1501.04 - Unlawful acts; penalty.
Full text of District Of Columbia D.C. Code § 50-1501.04 — Unlawful acts; penalty., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 50-1501.04. Unlawful acts; penalty.
50-1501.04It shall be unlawful:
For any person to operate any motor vehicle or trailer upon any public highway of the District of Columbia (except motor vehicles or trailers operated by nonresidents exempted under the provisions of ):
If such motor vehicle or trailer is not registered or covered by a dealer’s registration or by a special use certificate as required by this subchapter;
If such motor vehicle or trailer does not have attached thereto and displayed thereon the identification tags required therefor; or
If such person does not have in his possession or in the motor vehicle or trailer operated the registration certificate or special use certificate required therefor.
Repealed.
For the owner of any motor vehicle or trailer knowingly to permit the operation thereof contrary to any provision of paragraph (1) of this subsection;
To use a false or fictitious name or address in any application for registration or for a special use certificate, or any renewal or duplicate thereof, or knowingly to make any false statement or conceal any material fact in any such application; or
For the owner of any motor vehicle to knowingly use or permit the use of any motor vehicle with a counterfeit, stolen, or otherwise fraudulent temporary identification tag.
Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, any person violating any provision of this subchapter or the regulations made or promulgated under the authority hereof shall upon conviction thereof be subject to a fine of not more than $1000 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. All such prosecutions shall be in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia upon information filed by the Attorney General for the District of Columbia or any of his assistants in the name of the District of Columbia.
A motor vehicle being used in violation of subsection (a)(4) of this section shall be subject to forfeiture pursuant to the standards and procedures set forth in . Such forfeiture may be in addition to the imposition of a fine or imprisonment as provided for in paragraph (1) of this subsection.
The fine set forth in this section shall not be limited by .
A person violating subsection (a)(1) or (2) of this section shall be assessed the following civil penalties for a failure to maintain a valid and current registration:
A fine of $200 for a lapse in registration between one and 30 days; and
A fine of $200 for each additional unregistered month or portion thereof, up to a maximum of $2,400.
Violations under this subsection shall be adjudicated pursuant to [ et seq.].
Nothing in this section shall be interpreted as impeding the ability of a public safety officer to impound a vehicle that poses a threat to public health or safety.
Annotations
, referred to in (d), enacted ( et seq.), made amendments to the criminal offenses in §§ 48-901.02 and 48-905.02, and made conforming amendments to §§ 7-2507.06a, 8-905, 22-902, 22-1705, 22-2723, 32-1343, 48-905.03, and 50-1501.04.
Applicability of : Section 401 of provided that the act shall apply only to offenses committed on or after June 11, 2013.
Section 3 of provided: “The Mayor is authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this act.”
Source: official District Of Columbia text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About District Of Columbia § 50-1501.04
What does D.C. Code § 50-1501.04 cover?
Section 50-1501.04 ("Unlawful acts; penalty.") is part of the D.C. Code, the codified statutory law of District Of Columbia. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite District Of Columbia § 50-1501.04?
A common citation format is "D.C. Code § 50-1501.04" (District Of Columbia). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of District Of Columbia law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the District Of Columbia official source linked on this page or consult a licensed District Of Columbia attorney.
How does District Of Columbia § 50-1501.04 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in District Of Columbia.