Criminalising driving on a license suspended for a traffic offence (note: not expired or for financial reasons) seems like the easiest no brainer imaginable.

Driving to work sounds like a financial reason

> Driving to work sounds like a financial reason

Not a get out of jail free card.

In many states they'll still let you (drive for work, otherwise on restriction) for various offenses.

That just means the penalties are not strict enough. Even worse, we're afraid to impose real penalties (jail) so we rather just "fine" people (because it's more humane?), which will affect those most likely to drive without a license more than the regular folk. The regular folk will be scared shitless and will just get a lift with someone till their license issue is resolved.

Yeah and you don't want to be caught like that because you will be way more fucked than you were with just a suspended license.