Guides
- What Is Harboring a Fugitive and What Are the Penalties and Jail Time for It?
- Are Written or Verbal Contracts Legally Binding and When Should You Use Each?
- When Your Driving License Can Be Revoked and What You Can Do About It?
- What Are the Hunting Laws and Permits by State in the USA?
- Is Drunk Driving a Felony, What’s the Punishment, and How Many People Die From It?
- What is Domestic Abuse vs. Domestic Violence, and What Are the Differences?
- What is a Roommate Agreement, What Are the Benefits, and What Should You Include?
- What is Public Indecency, and What Are the Laws, Charges, and Penalties?
- What Are the Pocket Knives Laws, Legal Lengths, and Rules for Illegal Types?
- What is Aiding and Abetting and What Are the Punishments and Charges for It?
- Where Can You Be Naked in Public and Celebrate National Nude Day?
- What Is Child Custody and How to File for It Without an Attorney
- What to Do if Someone Has Stolen Your Driver's License Number and How to Replace It
- What is Bail Jumping: Punishments and Jail Time for Failure to Appear in Court
- Dating a Minor: Is It Legal and What Is the Age of Consent?
- How to Conduct a Dating Profile Search and Find Someone on a Dating Site
- What is Personally Identifiable Information and Why is PII Protection Important?
- What Is a No-Fault Divorce, When Did It Start and Why It Can Be Bad
- The Differences Between Moving And Non-Moving Violations
- What are Aggravating and Mitigating Factors in a Criminal Case?
- What Is ADR: Process, Meaning And Examples
- Definition and Differences Between Conspiracy Theories and Conspiracy Charge
- How to Get a Divorce: Process, Stages and Required Papers
- Embezzlement as a White-Collar Crime: Definition, Meaning, and Examples
- What Is a Car Registration, How Much Does It Cost and How to Get One?
- Types of Email Archiving and How to Retrieve Them
- How to Protect Your Car From Theft or Report It Stolen
- How to Organize and Protect Your Personal Documents?
- How to Find and Reconnect With Old Friends: Proven Techniques That Work
- Business Records: Types, Examples and How to Search
- Right to Privacy: Is It Protected By The Constitution?
- Ownership and Tenancy in Severalty in Real Estate
- What Different Types of Marriages Are There?
- Should You Believe in Age Gap Rules Calculation
- What Is Driver’s License Status and How To Check It
- What Is Civil Marriage: Pros and Cons
- Top 5 Most Famous Serial Killers Of All Times
- What Was The Subprime Mortgage Crisis
- Most Famous Murder Cases Throughout History
- The Dynamics and Consequences of Ghosting Someone in Personal Relationships
- What is Incarceration? Definition, Process, and Impact
- What is A Mortgage-Backed Security (MBS)
- Is AI Dangerous? Unveiling the Risks of Artificial Intelligence
- What is a VPN?
- 7 Cybersecurity Threats to Look Out For
- What Are Debtors and Creditors, and What Are Their Legal Rights and Differences?
- What Are the Types of Business Ownership and How Can You Transfer It?
- What is a Tax Lien, How Does It Work & How to Stop One?
- What is the Difference Between Civil and Criminal Cases?
- Property Ownership Types You Should Know About
- Community Safety Initiatives: How to Make Your Neighborhood Safer
- What is a Lien and How Lien Priority Works?
- Campus Safety 101: Essential Tips for a Secure College Life
- How to Know If Someone Is Divorced?
- What are the CCPA and CPRA?
- How to Get Over a Breakup?
- U.S. Violent Crime Definition & Statistics
- The 5 Steps You Should Know When Adopting a Child
- What Is Criminal Profiling and Is It Really Effective?
- A Full Guide on Reasonable Suspicion vs Probable Cause
- What Is Email Encryption & How to Encrypt an Email?
- What is a White Collar Crime? A Full Guide
- Rental Scams: How Do They Work & How to Catch Scammers?
- A Complete Guide on Parole vs Probation
- How to Submit a Data Removal Request and Hide Results About You on Google Search
- A Full Guide on House Arrests
- A Complete Guide on Marriage and Civil Union
- How to Safeguard Yourself and Deal with Marriage Debt
- What is Eyewitness Testimony?
- A Full Guide on Gentrification: Why is it a Problem?
- 8 Most Dangerous Twitter Scams and How to Avoid Them
- Pretexting Attacks: Common Types and How to Deal with Them
- How Do Zelle Scams Work and Things to Look Out For
- What Is Business Email Compromise, How to Defend Against It?
- What Is a Wellness Check, What Does It Consist of and How to Call For It?
- What Is a Temporary Restraining Order and How Do You Get One?
- What is Smishing And How to Prevent it?
- Spam Emails: Types and Ways to Block Them
- Email Masking & Masked Email Addresses
- Spot a Fake QR Code & Avoid Getting Scammed
- Common NFT Scams to Look Out For & Ways to Avoid the Fake Ones
- What to Do If You Witness a Crime?
- What Is Skip Tracing and How Does It Work?
- How to Avoid Common Venmo Scams and Protect Yourself From Scammers
- Can You Get Child Custody If You Have a Criminal Record?
- Common Amazon Scams and Ways on How to Avoid Them
- How to Find Liens on a Property?
- Multiple Bankruptcies: How Often You Can File One?
- How to Adopt a Child in the US?
- I Lost My Birth Certificate. What Should I Do?
- Warning Signs of Job Scams and How to Protect Yourself
- What Is a Ban the Box Law?
- What is Expungement?
- How to Transfer Property After Death Without Will
- What Is a Police Blotter?
- How to Appeal a Parking Ticket
- What Is a Clean Driving Record, How It Affects Insurance and How to Keep It Clean
- What is Title Washing?
- What is Extortion?
- How To Run a Motorcycle Title Search
- What Is a Digital Footprint?
- What is Anti Money Laundering (AML)?
- Guide on How to Get a Death Certificate
- What is the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)?
- What is Multi Factor Authentication?
- What is a Citizen's Arrest?
- How to Know that You’re in an Obsessive Relationship
- Guide to Online Survey Scams
- 13 Different Types of Police Officers
- Full Guide on Work-from-Home Scams
- Is Private Browsing Really Private?
- Different Types of Felony Classes & Charges
- What is Juice Jacking?
- What are Romance Scams?
- Traffic Offenses and Violations
- What is Doxing and How to Prevent it?
- What are Spam Text Messages
- The U.S. Death Penalty: History and Modern Usage
- What Are the Different Types of Bankruptcies and Which One Is Right for You?
- Common eBay Scams to be Aware of
- What Happens When You are Booked in Jail?
- What Information Can You Get From A License Plate
- Different Types of Assets
- How to Search and Find Family Members and Relatives Who Are Long Lost?
- Car History Guide, Benefits, Importance
- Am I Dating a Stalker?
- How to Find out if Your Partner is Cheating
- What Are the Types and Tools of Packet Sniffing Attacks?
- Intellectual Property Law and Rights
- Cyberstalking And Its Dangers
- A Guide to Phishing Scams
- What is Organized Crime?
- I’ve Lost My Driver’s License: What Should I Do?
- Misdemeanor Charges: Types, Classes, and Penalties
- A Complete Guide On Catfishing
- Vanity Phone Numbers: Why They Are Important and How to Get One
- What Happens When You Get Arrested
- Guide to Find Information About a Person Online
- How To Find And Claim Unclaimed Money
- What Happens if You Violate Probation
- Guide on How to Remove a Mugshot from the Internet
- How to Stay Safe on Public WiFi
- What Is an Outstanding Warrant and How Can You Check if You Have One?
- Different Types of Car Insurance
- What Is Cyptojacking?
- What Is Email Security?
- What Is the Deep Web and What Can Be Found There?
- What Happens When You Declare Bankruptcy
- How Divorce Settlements are Calculated
- What are Common Methods of Social Engineering
- What is the Difference Between a General Lien and a Specific Lien?
- How to Detect Odometer Rollback
- Different Types of Probation
- Finding forgotten life insurance policies
- What is Bearer Bond and Why the US Banned it
- Everything you need to know about small claims court
- Moral Turpitude: Definition, Examples, and Much More!
- Misdemeanor vs Felony
- How to Read a VIN Number and What It Tells You
- How to Find Out Who Hacked Your Cell Phone
- How Long Does a Misdemeanor Stay On Your Criminal Record?
- The Paypal Phishing Scam You Should Care to Avoid
- How Many Different Types of State License Plates Are There and Which Is the Standard One?
- Effects of Cyberbullying: Complete Guide for Parents
- What is the DPPA?
- Is Petty Theft a Misdemeanor and What Are the Consequences?
- What is a Life Sentence? Life in Prison
- Find out How to Check if Someone Has a Warrant Online for Free
- Is a Marriage Certificate the Same as a Marriage License and What Are the Differences?
- The Ten Most Popular Celebrity Mugshots
- How to Find Out if Someone is Married?
- How to Stop Phone Number Spoofing?
- How To Avoid Probate
- Dealing with abandoned vehicles in your neighborhood
- How to Find Someone's Cell Phone Number by Their Name
- Who Are the Worst Drivers in America?
- How To Find Unclaimed Money From Deceased Relatives
- What is a Digital License Plate?
- How to Find out if Someone Died?
- Murder vs Manslaughter: The Differences and Definitions
- How to Hire a Private Investigator?
- What Is a Number Neighbor?
- How to Find Out if Someone was Arrested
- How to Find Someone's Birthday?
- What is a Car Title
- How to Obtain a Police Report and Court Records?
- What is the Punishment for Filing a False Police Report?
- Prison Valley: Look inside Prison Town
- How to Get Custody of a Child Without Going to Court?
- How to Find Someone’s Social Media Profiles?
- What to Do if Your Phone Is Tapped?
- What Is a Deed in Real Estate?
- Where Was The First US Federal Penitentiary Established?
- Can You Track Someone's Location with Just a Phone Number?
- What Is a Restricted Phone Call and How to Block The Number?
- Who is the Most Dangerous Prisoner in the World?
- Poshmark Scams: How to Prevent and Report Them
- What to Do When Someone Is Missing: Practical Steps on How to Find a Missing Person
- How to Send Money to an Inmate in a Prison or Jail
- DUI vs DWI: The Difference Between DUI and DWI
- How Long After Buying a Car Do You Need to Register it?
- How to Find Someone's Address?
- What is an Ignition Interlock Device?
- What Is Situational Crime Prevention?
- How Can I Find Out Who Called Me for Free?
- Gun Free Zone Statistics and Facts
- Online Threats and Digital Security: Trends, Types and Most Common Examples
- Cold Cases: Best Practices For Police Officers and Investigators
- Court Order: Definition, Types and Examples
- What Does a Fingerprint Background Report Show?
- How to Check Your Criminal Record?
- What is Tort Law?
- How to Calculate Child Support
- Property Rights: Definition, and Characteristics
- 12 Common Reasons for Public Records Request
- What is Antitrust Law?
- Virginia Gun Confiscation Law
- Ways to Know Who Owns a House
- Neighborhood Watch Program
- How to Perform a Mugshot Search?
- Crime Mapping
- Safest Colleges in Florida
- Veterans Guide to Cars and Driving
- U.S. Correctional System: Structure, Incarceration and Facts
- License Plate Laws in the US
- How to Find Out If Someone Is in Jail?
- Email Hacking: Laws, Penalties and Protection
- Romeo and Juliet Laws
- Holiday Safety for Home and Family
- Differences between Criminal and Arrest Records
- Public Records and Property History: What is Public Information and What Isn’t
- How to Look up Immigration Inmates?
- Famous Prisons in the USA
- How to Find the Registered Owner of the Vehicle for Free?
- How to Search for Your Family Tree?
- The Federal Judicial Center
- Mass Incarceration in the USA
- What is COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act)?
- Data Safety After The Capital One Breach
- Scholarships Guide for Students
- Complete Guide to Student Safety
- What Is a Vehicle Identification Number?
- Determining Divorce: 5 Types of Divorce You Must Know
- Sex Offenders: Complete Guide to be Protected
- New Privacy Laws and Public Records
- Motor Vehicle Registration in the US
- Digital Token Age: Security Laws and Regulations
- Facial Recognition Technology and Legal Restrictions
- What Shows up in a Background Report
- What is Repossession of a Car?
- Protecting Yourself from Phone Scams
- Human Rights in the Prison
- What are Business Competition Laws?
- What is a Hate Crime?
- Starting a Business and Business Licenses
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Guidance
- Criminal Justice Reform
- Tax Reform Impact and Changes To Know
- Self-Driving Cars: Laws and Regulations
- White-Collar Crime: Statistics and Facts
- Have You Been Arrested? Cases You'll Need a Lawyer
- How to Get a Driver's License in the US
- Car Theft in the US: Statistics and Facts
- Identity Theft Passport Program
- Changing your Name after Marriage: What You Need to Know
- Finding the Perfect Roommate: Dos and Donts
- What to Do in a Car Accident?
- Property Crimes: How to Burglar Proof Your Home
- Consumer Laws in the US: What Do They Mean for a Customer and a Business Owner
- Child Trafficking: The Scope, Understanding, and Prevention
- Business Assets: A Guide to the Financial Health of your Business
- Guide To The College Application: How, When and Where to Apply
- Which States Have “Stand Your Ground” Laws?
- Adolescent Depression Symptoms and Causes
- Things to Know About the U.S. State Department Travel Advisory System
- Inheritance in the US: With & Without a Will
- Online Dating Safety Guide for Men and Women
- Sexual Abuse in the U.S.: Laws and Statistics
- Supporting Children After Divorce: Child Custody Options
- Halloween Horrors Come to Life: Holidays Crimes in the U.S.
- Charity Scams in the U.S.: Be Aware and Protected
- Webcam Hacking & Spying in the US
- Freedom of Religion in the U.S.
- Senior Financial Scams: How are the Elderly Targeted and How to Avoid It
- Catcalling: Is it illegal? How to Deal With It
- A Complete Guide To Insurance Fraud: Common Types and Prevention
- Sextortion: What to Do if You Became a Victim of Blackmailing
- Concealed Carry: How to Protect Yourself on Campus
- Debt Collection Laws | Fair Debt Collection Act: What You Need To Know
- How Much Is My House Worth? Ultimate Guide to Home Buying and Selling
- Traits of Sociopaths, Are They Dangerous and How to Deal With Them?
- Who Are Your Neighbors and How to Find Out About Them
- Learn How to Find Your Birth Parents
- The Importance of Public Records in Law
- What's The Difference Between a Jail And a Prison?
- Homeowner's Insurance Coverage & Common Claims
- The Disturbing Facts of Gun Violence in America
- How to Use Public Records in Marketing
- Best & Worst Cities for Driving
- LGBT Bullying
- A Parent's Guide to Keeping Your Child Drug-Free
- What You Need to Know When Buying or Selling a Used Car
- Guide to Filing for Bankruptcy
- Making Your DMV Experience Fast And Easy
- How to Appeal the Court's Decision
- How to Fight a Traffic Ticket?
- How to Prepare For an Active Shooter Incident
- How to Protect Yourself Against Cyber Attacks
- How to Report a Crime?
- Keeping Your Neighborhood Safe For Your Family
- School Safety and Security Standards
- 50 Things to Know When Filing for Divorce
- Tips for Back-to-School Safety and Security
- A User's Guide to Warrants
- What to Do When You Are Stopped By the Police
When Can Your Driving License Be Revoked and What Can You Do About It?
Driving provides easy transportation for buying groceries, commuting to work, and enjoying recreational activities. The ability to drive is integral to daily life, but many people forget that it is a privilege, not a right.
This right can be revoked for numerous reasons, like severe traffic violations or failure to comply with court orders. Knowing the reasons for license revocation helps people understand the risks of certain activities and prevents the debilitating problems that stem from the inability to drive.
What is a Revoked License?
A revoked license means the person has lost their right to operate a motor vehicle. This sentence lasts indefinitely, but the license holder can typically earn back their license by addressing the underlying reason for the punishment.
What's the Difference Between Suspended and Revoked Licenses?
License suspensions take away someone's driving rights for a set period, but the same license is still valid afterward. Each state has legal limits for how long a suspension may last, depending on the severity of the crime. For example, Texas has a maximum suspension duration of one year unless the person is convicted of a felony DWI.
Alternative licenses are available for people during a suspension. Obtaining these temporary licenses isn't easy; applicants must prove an urgent need to drive. Depending on the state, these licenses have different names, such as Essential Needs Permits or Occupational Driver's Licenses.
In comparison, revocations are permanent. However, this doesn't mean that the person can never drive again. A revocation invalidates the current license but doesn't always prevent the driver from obtaining a new license when the punishment is lifted.
To obtain a new license, the driver must pass the state's requirements. Additionally, there are no temporary options allowing people with revoked licenses to drive under certain conditions.
Reasons for License Revocation
License revocations are administered by each state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DPS) or the courts. This punishment is not always caused by driving-related infractions and may be doled out to people with a pattern of irresponsible behavior.
The most common reasons for license revocation include:
- Felony DUIs: Causing an injury or death due to driving under the influence will likely result in a license revocation. First-time misdemeanor DUIs typically lead to a suspension, but many states have zero-tolerance policies for repeat offenders.
- Driving with a Suspended License: Continuing to drive with a suspended license can escalate the punishment into a revocation. In most states, driving with a revoked or suspended license is a misdemeanor and will appear on the offender's criminal record.
- Hit-and-runs: Fleeing from the scene of an accident can result in a revoked license. The chances of a revocation instead of a suspension increase dramatically if the collision caused injury or property damage.
- Reckless Driving: Repeat offenders engaging in reckless driving can have their license revoked. A license suspension typically precedes this punishment.
- Failure to Pay Child Support: Missing child support payments is the most common non-driving cause of license revocation. Courts revoke licenses as effective enforcement and can lift the order if the owing spouse fulfills the missing support obligations.
- Drug and Alcohol Offenses by Minors: Substance-using behavior by minors is often punished with revocation. In these cases, it's common for the offender to be blocked from obtaining a new license until they are an adult.
Will Your License Get Revoked if You Get Four or More Traffic Convictions?
Most states assign points to each person's driving record for infractions. Each offense is calculated differently, but speeding, running a light, driving without a license, or driving while intoxicated will lead to points.
Each state manages its point system separately, but the general guidelines are the same. Drivers who accrue too many points within a set period face additional penalties. There is no hardline number of offenses that lead to a license revocation.
These points do not disappear once the driver's license is suspended. This persistence means that the first offense after a license suspension could escalate the situation into a revocation.
The required time for points to "fall off" a record ranges between three to five years. However, points can be removed by passing driving tests or approved safety courses.
How Long Does a Revoked License Last?
While a license revocation is technically indefinite, it doesn't always work that way in practice. Some offenders can obtain a new license after a revocation; however, they must repeat the process from the beginning.
The waiting period for obtaining a new license varies depending on the offense that triggered the revocation. Revocations for less serious crimes, like hit-and-runs or driving without a license, may only last a few months to a year. Once this period passes, the offender can apply for a new license.
Some felony offenses can prevent a driver from obtaining a new license for the rest of their life. For example, California permanently denies new licenses to people with DUI murders and those who used their vehicle as a deadly weapon.
Impact on Driving Privileges and Record
Instances of a revoked or suspended license will appear on a driving record. These events do not add points but will appear on a targeted background check. This may affect a person's eligibility for driving-related professions.
Driving records are connected to personal identities, not driver's license numbers. This means that obtaining a new license after a revocation will not erase the record. Insurance companies will also see a previously revoked license on a record. They will consider the driver to be at a higher risk and charge matching premiums.
What You Can Do About a Revoked License
A revoked license places a lot of strain on daily life. Going to work or running errands becomes significantly more challenging, especially if there is no easily accessible public transportation in your area.
The absolute first step is to consider if the license revocation is warranted. Forty-eight states have some form of administrative license suspension laws that permit law enforcement to revoke a license at will.
This power means that there are many cases in which drivers have their licenses unfairly revoked for refusing a blood or chemical test. States allow drivers to appeal these citations and remove the penalties if they are successful. However, the situation changes if the license revocation sticks.
Steps to Take if Your License is Revoked
- Confirm the Waiting Period: Carefully mark how long your license is revoked and when you can apply for a new one. This information will help you create a consistent transportation plan.
- Pay Fines and Meet Legal Obligations: The court may assign additional punishments in addition to revoking a license. Offenders must pay fines and complete court-ordered programs (rehabilitation and driver's education) before obtaining a new license.
- Consult an Attorney: Legal guidance can help with the reapplication process or provide avenues to reduce points on your driving record. They may also find problems in the revocation process and lift the ban.
- Reapply for Your License: Once the waiting period ends and you've met all court orders, you can reapply for a new license. The process is the same as when you were a teenager, requiring applicants to pass both written and driving tests.
How to Prevent License Revocation
The best way to prevent a license revocation is to follow traffic laws. Some things are simple, like never driving while intoxicated. However, less mindful offenses like speeding or running a red light are harder to avoid consistently.
These smaller infractions won't immediately result in a license loss and can be addressed by taking defensive driving courses to remove points from your record. Drivers should pay special attention to mundane infractions that could instantly lead to a license revocation. Ensure your vehicle is always insured, and never drive without your license.
Additionally, never drive with a suspended license. Doing so will escalate the suspension to a revocation and create a much bigger headache. While suspended, drivers should ask for rides, hire ride-sharing services, or utilize public transportation.
License revocation is a severe consequence of repeated traffic offenses, felony DUIs, or ignoring court orders. This punishment keeps dangerous elements off the road and forces drivers to reconfirm their capabilities. While some revocations have an expiration date, others can permanently ban someone from obtaining another driver's license.
Exercising safe driving habits and following traffic laws will prevent these troubles. However, involving legal professionals who can help you maintain your lifestyle or combat an unfair revocation may be necessary.