Common Reasons for a Driver’s License Suspension

In Pennsylvania, as in the rest of the country, driving is a right rather than a privilege. Drivers can have their license to drive suspended (rather than canceled). A drivers’ license suspension can be the result of driving violations or violations of other state laws. This means that they are prohibited from driving for a specific period of time or until an investigation conducted by the state has been completed and the investigators satisfied with their findings.  It also is likely to be accompanied by fines and reinstatement fees, as well as the chance that your insurance rates will increase.

There are many reasons why a license may be suspended, but these are the most common:

• Refusal to submit to a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) test – Consent to submit to a BAC test is a condition of having a driver’s license, and refusal automatically leads to a suspension, no matter what the results of the test would have been.
• Being found guilty of Driving Under the Influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Accumulating too many points for moving violations. Exceeding 6 points requires passing a written exam within 30 days and failing that your license will be suspended until you pass. Repeat offenders must attend a hearing at which your driving record will be examined, and your license suspended pending an on-road driving test. Exceeding 10 points results in immediate suspension, the length of which will be based on previous record.
• Driving with a suspended license or no license results in an increased length of suspension, and possible imprisonment.
• Reckless driving
• Being at fault in a fatal accident
• Abandoning your vehicle on a public highway
• Disqualification based on physical or psychological fitness to drive.
• Non-driving reasons such as not responding to a DOT notice, not appearing in court, failure to pay traffic tickets and fines or not paying child support.
• Failure to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights
• Driving at 31 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit

Each of the reasons cited above, as well as many others, can lead to you having your driver’s license suspended, and this can have a significant impact on your ability to earn a living or maintain your current quality of life. For information about how to defend against charges leading to driver’s license suspension, contact our firm today to set up an appointment.