Introduction

Originally, driving license suspension in the United States was put in place as a sanction to deal with poor driving behaviors. However, the suspension is now adopted commonly as a means of punishing those who engage in criminal behaviors, or other socially undesirable acts, including behaviors that are not related to motor vehicle operation. It is also an approach adopted to ensure compliance with administrative requirements --- examples include appearance in court for the purpose of answering summons and paying surcharges, fees, and fines.

For a lot of people, having a driver’s license is like gaining freedom --- they are able to go where they wish and at any time they choose. For teenagers, it is even more exciting to get a license to drive, especially if it is the first time of getting it. However, becoming a driving license owner comes with some legal responsibilities. And, when a holder does not comply with those legal responsibilities, some legal actions would apply and one of them is driving license suspension, or revoked driving license.

The Implications of Driving with Revoked or Suspended Driver’s License 

For example, in the State of Florida, it is crime to drive with revoked or suspended driving license. In fact, it is a criminal offense to do so. The charge for such act could be a felony or misdemeanor depending on whether violations are repeated and the reasons for the suspension. Section 322.34 of the Florida Motor Vehicle Statutes provides driving offense details --- the title in the quoted section is

Driving While License is Suspended, Revoked, Canceled, or Disqualified.

Who Can Suspend Driving License?

The department of motor vehicles in your state has the right to suspend your driving license for different reasons that include the following;

Driving without insuranceDUI/DWI/OUI (Driving Under the Influence)Receiving a lot of moving violations, points or ticketsRefusing to pay a fine ordered by courtRefusing to pay child supportRefusing to provide urine, breath or blood sample for chemical testing if the driving offense is DWINegligence on the part of the driver, resulting in accident, causing another person to sustain injury or even dieGenerally having

disrespect for traffic laws and a disregard for other persons’ safety,

as stated by the lawHow to Know if Your License has Been Suspended or Revoked

If a person’s driving license is suspended or revoked, the person will be notified via a mail that will contain the telephone number and address of the court that issued the license suspension or revocation. Also, individuals can check their driving license status or driving record history online. There are websites that offer such service.

What You Can Do If Your License is Suspended or Revoked – Suspended License Reinstatement

If your license to drive is suspended or revoked, you can seek reinstatement by speaking to the judge. For an unemployed person or low income earner, the judge may decide to reduce the fines and fees. 

You should bear in mind that driving privilege reinstatement is not automatic. And, you have to satisfy the reinstatement conditions as specified by the Department of Motor Vehicles, a court officer, or a county judge, before reinstatement can take place. 

In the case of suspension or revocation due to refusal to provide a sample for testing, the culprit will wait until the mandatory imposed suspension has elapsed --- this could be a period of 1 year to 18 months.

How it Works in the UK

In the U.K, it is the court that decides the duration of driving license ban or suspension, depending on the court’s perception of the seriousness of the offense. For instance, a situation where an individual incurs 12 points and above on driving license, the suspension, disqualification or ban may linger for 6 months --- if the 12 or more points happened in a space of three years.

Conclusion

If your driver’s license has been revoked or suspended, you should consult an attorney for driving license suspension or revocation; this is usually a criminal defense attorney. The attorney will explain the legal options you have.

Further Reading:

Driver’s Licenses in the United States – WikipediaDiscriminatory Driver’s License Suspension Schemes - https://www.acslaw.org/issue_brief/...Suspension -

https://www.ssti.us/wp/...Driving Disqualifications – Gov.UK