What Restrictions Come With a Suspended License?

Driving is a privilege, not a right. It is a privilege the Department of Motor Vehicles has the right to take away in certain situations. If a driver breaks the law or proves he or she is a danger to others on the road, that driver may face the punishment of driver’s license suspension or revocation. A driver cannot operate a vehicle as he or she normally would with a suspended or revoked driver’s license.

Suspended vs. Revoked License

A suspended license is a temporary order that may be definite or indefinite. A definite suspension has a set time frame in which the person cannot drive. Certain crimes come with several weeks or months of driver’s license suspensions, for example. Some suspension orders, however, are indefinite. They will last as long as it takes for the driver to take the required action, such as pass a driver safety course or receive drug treatment. After the license suspension period, the driver will have to pay the necessary reinstatement fees to lawfully drive again.

A revoked driver’s license is a permanent retraction of the person’s driving privileges. The state has canceled the driver’s license and the driver cannot pay for reinstatement. The only way to regain a driver’s license after revocation is to request approval from the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The DMV will review the case, request payment for any civil penalties the driver owes and require the driver to pass the state’s licensing process again. The driver will have to take and pass the written, driving and visual exams for a new driver’s license.

Common Reasons for Driver’s License Suspension

Committing a crime while driving is the most common reason for a driver’s license suspension in Kansas City. Law enforcement might suspend or revoke a person’s driving privileges for committing a traffic offense or crime such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, driving without vehicle insurance, failing to pay traffic citations, failing to appear in court, reckless driving, and too many points on the driver’s license. Typically, the more severe the crime or infraction, the more severe the penalties against the driver’s license. Serious crimes are more likely to result in license revocation than petty crimes.

What a Driver Cannot Do With a Suspended License

If the DMV suspends a driver’s license, that driver legally cannot operate his or her vehicle until license reinstatement. The driver will face additional traffic infractions and penalties for driving on a suspended license, with rare exceptions. If the driver had to drive because of an emergency, for example, this may not lead to penalties. For the most part, however, violating the orders of a driver’s license suspension or revocation is a serious traffic offense in Kansas City. A driver who violates the orders of a suspended license could face hefty fines and even jail time. The DMV could also revoke a suspended license if the driver continues to drive.

What Happens After an Accident With a Driver With a Suspended License?

If one driver in a car accident in Kansas City has a suspended license, the injured victims should contact a car accident lawyer for legal advice. Driving on a suspended license could serve as proof of that driver’s liability. It could establish a history of negligence, increasing the odds of a judge or jury ordering the driver to pay for victims’ damages.

If the driver does not have car insurance, a crash victim may need to seek financial recovery through his or her own insurance company. In Kansas City, uninsured or under-insured motorist insurance could cover a victim’s damages after a collision with an uninsured driver. A first-party insurance claim could repay the victim for his or her medical expenses and property damage repairs. If the victim does not have uninsured motorist insurance, he or she may have to search for a third-party defendant to take the case. A personal injury lawyer could help a crash victim after an accident with a driver with a suspended license.