So, I've been thinking about this a lot recently and was wondering if this has happened to anyone else. I do have a driver's license, although I shouldn't (long expired visa), and heres what happened.


When I went for my driving permit (I didn't know about my status till a few years later) the lady told my mother that she would have to go to the immigration office before I could take the test and that she required some sort of permission from them or something. I of course thought that this was just an inconvenience because I wasn't from America and that maybe my Mum had just forgotten some paperwork. Naturally I was disappointed and figured we would have to go run somewhere and then come back later or the next day, typical impatient 16 year old self. My Mum looked upset too and told the lady that she had already done such and that we should be all good to go. The lady seeing my disappointment and looking pretty tired with her job and this complication just said "okay." She filled out the paperwork and let me take the test. I passed and she issued me a permit. I was none the wiser and my mother was very relieved at not having to tell me why I couldn't drive like all the rest of the 16 year olds in town. I went back a year later for my driver's license and they upgraded my permit. So I guess through pure luck and some sort of fluke I ended up with a license. Ironically enough, my parent's had already expired and were unable to renew theirs at the same time. Also worth mentioning that two years later I went back with my younger brother to see if he could get his by some chance, and he could not. So I ended up being the only person in my family driving legally.

So here's a few questions..

Has this by chance happened to anyone else?
Could I be penalized for this?
My license expires next year, should I try to get it renewed?
If I shouldn't, what should I do while I still have one?
Any other thoughts?