Each State within the US has different laws regarding suspending drivers licenses, but generally they cover the same basics. For example, in Alabama you may not get your driver’s license suspended for non-payment of child support, but in California you will.
The laws vary state to state, but not to a great extent. If you tally up all motor vehicle laws from all the US States, there are approximately 50 ways to get your license suspended. It’s a wonder more licenses aren’t suspended. It’s important to point out the difference between getting your license suspended and having your license revoked. With a suspension there is a start date and end date.
You are restricted to a period of time when you would be illegal to drive a motor vehicle. If caught driving even an ATV or snowmobile you suffer the same consequences as driving a car, truck, motorcycle or any other road worthy vehicle. Even if you’re working for something like Hamilton plumbing company, driving their company vehicles to service clients, you are still responsible for your own drivers licence. At the end of the time appointed, you likely will go before a judge and have your permit reinstated. If revoked, however, this could set your life into turmoil since your license is taken away permanently.
You can wait for a period of a year – sometimes more time is required, depending on the State, and ask for your license to be reinstated, but the chances are slim to none that you will have your driving privileges returned. You can plea before a judge for partial suspension so you can still drive to your workplace, but you could easily be denied and find yourself on public transportation.
Suspending your license is done at the time you have garnered 12 points. The State awards so many points per moving violation. Once you’ve reached 12 points within a two year period your license is up for suspension. Driving with an alcohol level over .08, reckless driving or fleeing law enforcement, drag racing, driving 16 MPH over the speed limit all constitute high point awards. Lesser offenses that can add up are: careless driving, going 11-15 MPH over the speed limit, and sliding through a stop sign. Then there are the niglers we all incur from time to time: Driving 10 over, not using lane change signals, or neglecting to move to the far lane when seeing a vehicle pulled over the police. These can add up if you’re not mindful. If they do then it’s best you are taken off the road for your safety as well as others.
Although a bundle of smaller point tickets might not be as bad as a couple of big whoppers, it will depend on how the State views your overall driving record. You will be called in for a reassessment exam where they will take into account the seriousness of the situations that led to the points. They will consider whether or not you accumulated your points in rapid succession or over a period of the two years. They will assess your character and ability to hold a job. Essentially they will calculate your risk to society and reassess your abilities to decide whether or not to begin the drivers license restoration process.
There are people who think it’s sport to mess with the law, usually the young and reckless with Teflon egos. However, they ultimately end up paying a huge price. We all have an occasional ticket, but making a game of it certainly is not in anyone’s best interest. It’s really not difficult to drive responsibly. The high speed, stunt driving we see in the movies is exactly where it needs to stay. On-screen entertainment trumps purchasing real life bus passes any day.