SUSPENDED LICENSE INFORMATION FOR FLORIDA


 

(SEE BELOW FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL) INFORMATION)

 

There is a difference between having your Florida driver’s license suspended and having it revoked.

  • A suspension means you cannot drive for a certain period of time, but can get your license back later.
  • A revocation of your license means your driver’s license is cancelled, and you will need to submit to an investigation before you can obtain another license.

 

Insurance companies keep a close watch on license suspensions / revocations. Your insurance premiums may go up drastically, and you may be labeled a “high-risk” customer. Even worse, your insurance company may cancel your policy, leaving you to search for insurance with the “high-risk” driver tag, meaning you’ll have to pay much higher premiums.

 

It is recommended that you get in touch with a DUI/DWI lawyer as they are experts at handling such incidents and can offer you the best advice. Additionally, you will face Heavy Fines and Reinstatement Fees and Points on your driver’s license! All this information can be found on our website. You could also contact an STA Advisor absolutely FREE!!!

REASONS FOR DRIVER’S LICENSE SUSPENSIONS IN FLORIDA


 

There are a variety of reasons why your Florida driver’s license might be suspended. Some of these are related to specific driving violations, while others may be due to violation of other State laws. The following are some of the most common reasons for a Florida driver’s license to be suspended or revoked.

 

  • Excessive Moving Violations: The state of Florida operates on a point system, in which drivers accumulate points on their license for every moving violation they commit. If you accumulate 12 or more points on your current driver record, your license will be suspended. 12 points in 1 year will result in suspension for 30 days; 18 points in 18 months will suspend your license for 3 months and 24 points in 3 years will result in a 1-year suspension.
  • Driving Under the Influence: Your Florida driver’s license will be suspended if you are found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The length of the suspension is 6 months for your 1st offense, and 1 year for your 2nd offense (or subsequent offenses). If you refuse to take a breath/urine/blood test you will face a 1-year suspension, or 18 months for a 2nd refusal (or subsequent refusals). If eligible, you will be given a 10-day temporary driving permit to use, starting on the date of your arrest.
  • Driving with a Suspended License or No License: Driving with a suspended license will lead to an increase in the length of the suspension, and you may also be imprisoned for up to 5 years. The duration of the additional suspension varies depending on the reason for the underlying suspension. Your driver’s license may also be suspended if you do not have your license with you while you are driving.
  • Driving without Insurance: All motor vehicles driven in Florida must be properly insured. Failure to provide proof of valid auto insurance can result in your license being suspended.
  • Other Driving-Related Violations: Your Florida driver’s license may also be suspended for 1 year if you engage in reckless driving, are found to be at fault in a fatal accident, or if you abandon your vehicle on a public highway. If a violation results in death or serious injury (not DUI), the suspension period is 3 months to 1 year.
  • Physical or Psychological Disqualification: The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Chief Administrator can order a re-examination of any person who may not be fit to drive. An individual’s driving privileges may be suspended if the re-examination finds they are physically or psychologically unable to drive safely.
  • Providing False Information: If you provide false information on your driver’s license application, your license can be suspended.
  • Non-Driving Reasons for License Suspension: A variety of non-driving violations or issues can result in your license being suspended. These include: not responding to a Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles notice or not appearing in court; failing to pay traffic tickets, fines or surcharges; not paying child support, not stopping for a school bus or for using tobacco if you’re younger than 18 years old.

FOR DRIVER’S UNDER 21:

 

  • If you get a traffic conviction while using a learner’s license, your mandatory 1-year learner’s period will restart on the day you get charged.
  • If you accumulate 6 or more points in 1 year, your driving privileges will be restricted and you will only be able to drive to work and back for 1 year or until your 18th birthday.
  • You will receive a 6-month suspension if your body alcohol content is over 02% and 1 year for subsequent offenses. If your blood alcohol level is 0.05% or higher, you will need to complete a substance abuse evaluation and alcohol course before your driver’s license is reinstated. If eligible, you will be given a temporary 10-day driving permit to use. This permit becomes effective 12 hours from the time of issuance.
  • If you refuse to take a breathalyzer test your license will be suspended for 1 year on the 1st refusal, and 18 months for 2nd refusal (or subsequent refusals).
  • If you are absent from school for more than 15 times without a valid reason, all your driving privileges will be taken away.
  • If you are under 18 and are found with tobacco, you will lose all driving privileges.

INFRACTIONS RESULTING IN AN AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION OF YOUR LICENSE:

 

  • Committing a crime or dishonest act that involves a motor vehicle.
  • Fleeing from an accident that involves personal injury or death. Your license will be automatically revoked for 3 years if you kill another person due to reckless driving.
  • You receive 3 tickets for reckless driving within 1 year.
  • You receive 3 major traffic citations or 15 minor ones, within a period of 5 years.
  • Racing on the highway.
  • Medical conditions such as poor vision.

ACTIONS TO TAKE IF YOUR FLORIDA DRIVER’S LICENSE IS SUSPENDED

 

Having your Florida driver’s license suspended is a serious matter and it is essential to adhere to State law in the event that your license is suspended. If your license has not already been taken away from you in court, you must surrender it to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. You can surrender your license in person at a Driver License Office, or mail it to:

 

Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

Neil Kirkman Building

2900 Apalachee Parkway

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0500

 

  • While your license is suspended, you are not permitted to drive. If you are found driving with a suspended license, you may be imprisoned for up to 5 years, and the length of your suspension may be increased.
  • After your suspension is over, you will receive a written notice of restoration, with instructions on how to restore your license. Do not drive until you have completed the necessary steps and received a valid, replacement license from the Florida DHS &MV.
  • It may be possible to apply for a hardship reinstatement. Call your local Driver License Office or (850) 617 2000 for more details.

CHECK YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE STATUS


Convictions, license suspensions, and revocations will show up on your 3-year and 5-year driving records. You may be able to dismiss traffic tickets and remove points from your driving record by completing an online defensive driving course. Because your driving record can affect your auto insurance rates and even your employment, it’s crucial that you make sure your information is accurate.

APPLY FOR A FLORIDA HARDSHIP DRIVER’S LICENSE


You can apply for a hardship driver’s license in Florida IF your suspension/revocation was due to:

  • Accumulating too many points on your driving record.
  • A violation resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
  • Being a Habitual Traffic Offender (you can apply after 1 year from the date of your revocation).

 

To apply for the hardship license, visit a Florida Administrative Reviews Office (on the FLHSMV website, select your county and look for “Under Suspension – Need Driver License for Work”) and:

  • Take the required test.
  • Pay the suspension reinstatement fee. (See fees below.)
  • Pay any applicable fees to apply for your new license.
  • Submit proof of enrollment in an Advanced Driver Improvement course. If you are a Habitual Traffic Offender and your license was revoked for a DUI, you will need proof of enrollment in a DUI school

 

You CANNOT apply for a hardship license if:

  • You have been convicted of a DUI or refused to give a BAC test 2 times or more.
  • You have been disqualified from driving a commercial vehicle and are applying for a hardship CDL.
  • Your license was suspended for being incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle.

 

(You may, however, ask for a hearing to request up to 2 opportunities to pass the re-licensing test in order to reinstate your suspended driver’s license.)

FLORIDA SUSPENSION HEARINGS & APPEALS


If you receive a Notice of Scheduled Suspension from the DHS & MV, and you wish to challenge the suspension, you may request a hearing in court. An administrative law judge or the DHS & MV Chief Administrator will hear your case, and determine whether your driver’s license should be suspended or not.

 

In addition, drivers whose license may be suspended due to accumulating excessive points may be eligible to enroll in a Driver Improvement Program. Completing a Driver Improvement Program removes 3 points from the current driving record, and in some cases can enable an individual to avoid having his license suspended.

 

Please note that any hearing relating to DMV charges and suspensions do not affect any associated criminal proceedings or court decisions. Criminal penalties may still apply.

REINSTATE YOUR FLORIDA DRIVER’S LICENSE


You will receive a Notice of Restoration from the DHS & MV after you have completed your suspension period. The notice will include complete instructions regarding how to get your license back. The process differs according to the infraction:

 

Reinstatement After Traffic Summons or Failure to Pay a Fine:

 

You will need to provide proof you satisfied your summons if your license was suspended for failing to:

  • Comply with a summons.
  • Appear on a traffic summons.
  • Pay a fine.
  • Complete or attend court-ordered traffic school.
  • You will need to provide payment for the $60 D6 suspension reinstatement fee.

 

If you are out of state, send the above plus a letter of residency to:

 

The Bureau of Motorist Compliance

P.O. Box 5775

Tallahassee, FL 32314-5775

 

The Florida DMV will mail you a clearance letter. If you have any questions about your ticket, contact the Bureau of Customer Services at (850) 617-2000.

 

To avoid getting a suspended license due to a traffic ticket in Florida, make sure you pay your ticket before the due date.

 

Reinstatement After a DUI:

 

If you were convicted by criminal court for a DUI, you may need to take additional steps to reinstate your license, including:

  • Enrolling in or completion of a DUI course and treatment, if required.
  • Proving of Bodily Injury Liability Insurance.

 

Visit the FLHSMV website for a complete list of actions you need to take to reinstate your Florida driver’s license.

Reinstatement After Inadequate Vision:

 

If your FL driver’s license was revoked due to having inadequate vision, you must submit a report of an eye exam showing that you have met the minimum FL DMV vision standards to a driver license office. If your report shows you have “Inadequate/Field of Vision,” you must send your report and a “Field of Vision Chart” to:

 

The Bureau of Motorist Compliance

Vision Section

2900 Apalachee Parkway, MS 87

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0570

 

Your chart will be reviewed and the FLHSMV will advise whether or not your driver’s license will be reinstated.

 

Reinstatement After Accumulation of Traffic Points:

 

If your FL driver’s license was suspended because you accumulated too many points within a certain time period, you will also need to:

  • Take the required examination.
  • Submit proof of enrollment in an Advanced Driver Improvement course.

 

Your driving points will stay on your driver record for at least 5 years from when you committed the violation.

 

 

Note that after your license is restored, you will be subject to a Mandatory Probation Period of 1 year, during which any new violations may result in an additional suspension of your Florida driver’s license.

 

FEES TO REINSTATE YOUR FLORIDA DRIVER’S LICENSE

 

Payment of the following fees is required to reinstate your suspended driver’s license in Florida:

  • Suspension: $45.
  • Revocation: $75.

 

You may be required to pay additional fees, depending on the circumstances of your suspension/revocation:

  • D-6 suspension (for unpaid traffic tickets): $60.
  • Child support suspension: $60.
  • Failure to maintain car insurance: $150.
  • Additional administration fee for alcohol and drug-related offenses: $130.

 

You may also need to pay additional DMV and court fees depending on the reason for your suspension. The Florida Driver’s Handbook contains a complete list of fees required to reinstate your driver’s license.

ACCEPTED PAYMENT METHODS

 

  • Mail: Check payable to “Division of Motorist Services.”
  • In person: Cash, Check, MasterCard, VISA, American Express, and Discover credit/debit card.

 

For more information regarding suspensions and related penalties, please visit the FLHSMV website.

COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL) SUSPENSIONS IN FLORIDA

 

CDL’s are suspended more easily than standard licenses. This is because commercial drivers are held to very high standards. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) administer commercial driver’s license (CDL) suspensions in the state. Your Florida commercial driver’s license (CDL) can be suspended for the following reasons:

  • Receiving 2 traffic violations within 3 years: 60 day-suspension.
  • Receiving 3 traffic violations within 3 years: 120 day-suspension.
  • Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol: 1-year suspension. (3 years if transporting hazardous materials.) You are not eligible for a hardship license.
  • Driving while in possession of a controlled substance: 1-year suspension. You are not eligible for a hardship license.
  • Refusing to take a blood alcohol level (BAC) test: 1-year suspension.

 

The state court may also enforce additional penalties, including permanent disqualification from operating a commercial vehicle. You may also need to meet additional requirements from the State Courts to reinstate your suspended CDL.

 

In addition to state-specific laws and regulations, commercial drivers are also subject to federal regulations controlled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), including:

  • License disqualifications and/or disqualifications for violating out-of-service orders.
  • Disqualifications and suspensions for 60 days to life for serious violations, such as:
    • Driving under the influence (DUI).
    • Leaving the scene of an accident you are involved in.
    • Reckless driving.
    • Excessive speeding.
    • Violating railroad-highway grade crossings.

 

NOTE: All commercial drivers are required by law to notify employers within 30 days of any traffic conviction. For more information about federal regulations and penalties, please visit the FMCSA website.

FLORIDA CDL SUSPENSION HEARINGS & APPEALS

 

If your Florida CDL was suspended failing or refusing a BAC test, you may be able to request a hearing to contest your suspension. You will need to request your hearing with your local FLHSMV Bureau of Administrative Reviews office within 10 days of your arrest. You may be charged a $25 hearing fee.

 

For more information about appealing a suspended license in Florida, contact your local FLHSMV office.

 

NOTE: Administrative hearings do not affect court decisions or proceedings. They only relate to suspensions given by the FLHSMV.

REINSTATE YOUR FLORIDA CDL 

 

In Florida, the requirements to have your CDL reinstated will depend on the reason for your suspension. In most cases, you will need to wait out the disqualification period and pay the disqualification reinstatement fee to have your CDL restored.

 

Contact your local FLHSMV office for information specific to your situation.

 

FEES TO REINSTATE YOUR FLORIDA CDL

 

The fees to reinstate your Florida CDL will vary based on your specific situation and reason for suspension. You may also need to pay additional court-ordered fines or fees if you were convicted in court.

 

Below are some general fees for non-CDL reinstatement that may apply to your CDL reinstatement as well. For specifics, please contact your local FLHSMV office.

 

  • Reinstatement fee: $75.
  • D-6 suspension (for unpaid traffic tickets): $60.
  • Alcohol and drug-related suspensions: $130.