The most common reasons for license suspension in the state of California include a DUI conviction, driving without insurance, and getting too many points on your driving record. However, you could also have your license suspended for non-driving reasons, like if you fail to make child support payments.
Driving is an important part of lots of peoples’ lives, but driving a car comes with significant responsibility. Every state has laws around suspending or revoking driver’s licenses if a driver is deemed irresponsible with a motor vehicle or fails to fulfill certain legal requirements. It’s important that California drivers understand the reasons why their licenses could be suspended.
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers What’s the difference between a driver’s license suspension and a license revocation?
While the terms “suspension” and “revocation” are sometimes used interchangeably, they don’t actually mean the same thing. Here’s the difference:
License suspension means that you’ve lost your license for a specific period of time.
License revocation is a more serious, sometimes permanent, loss of driving privileges. In some cases, you might have to completely reapply for a new license or fulfill specific legal requirements in order to regain your driving privileges.
What can your license be suspended for in California?
California organizes suspensions and revocations into five main categories: driving under the influence (DUI), negligence, fraud, deteriorated driving skill, and financial responsibility. You can read all about them on the California Department of Motor Vehicles website
. In California, driving with a suspended license is considered a misdemeanor. Some major offenses may also result in jail time. Here are some of the most common reasons why you might have your license suspended and what you can do about it. 1. Driving under the influence (DUI conviction)
If you’re arrested for driving under the influence—including alcohol or even prescription drugs—your license will be confiscated by the arresting law enforcement officer. If you’re convicted, it will be suspended.
If it’s your first conviction, your license will be suspended for four months, as long as you took the chemical test. Repeat offenses will get you a suspension time of one year, but only if you took the breathalyzer test. If you’re convicted of underage drinking, you’ll lose your California driver’s license for one year or until you turn 18, whichever comes later.
California's DUI Laws
maintain that by driving a vehicle, you are giving implied consent to be tested for alcohol or other substances in your system. If you refuse a drug or alcohol test from a police officer, your license will be automatically suspended, even if you weren’t actually driving under the influence. Punishments if you refuse testing are also harsher: one year suspension for a first offense, two year revocation for a second offense within 10 years, and three year revocation for any subsequent offenses within 10 years.In order to get your license back, you’ll need to pay a $125 reissue fee ($100 for minors) to the California DMV at the end of your suspension period and provide proof of auto insurance. A DUI will also contribute two points to your driving record.
2. Negligence: too many points
The DMV has a complex system for assessing and dealing with negligent drivers called the Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS). This system keeps track of driving record points and treats negligent drivers on a four-level system.
Most minor traffic convictions and moving violations—such as speeding, reckless driving, or operating an unsafe vehicle—will get you one point on your record. You’ll also get a single point if you are found to be responsible for a car accident.
A DUI conviction or a hit-and-run conviction are both common ways to get two points on your record.
If you get two points in twelve months, four points in 24 months, or six points in 36 months, you’ll receive a warning letter from the DMV, alerting you that you are at NOTS Level I.
If you get three points in twelve months, five points in 24 months, or seven points in 36 months, you’ll receive a notice of intent to suspend—NOTS Level II.
You’ll reach Level III and be given a one-year probation and six-month license suspension if you get four points in twelve months, 6 points in 24 months, or eight points in 36 months.
You’ll receive a violation of probation order and be placed at Level IV of the NOTS system if you are convicted of any violation or are responsible for a collision while you are still on probation. You’ll also receive automatic Level IV treatment if you fail to appear in court or pay a traffic violation fine. First and second probation violations result in a six-month suspension period, while a third violation results in a one-year revocation.
3. Financial responsibility: driving without insurance
If you get in an accident and don’t have car insurance, your driver’s license will be suspended for four years. Once your driving privileges have been suspended for a year, you may be able to get it back if you go to the DMV office with proof of insurance and maintain that insurance for the remaining three years.
4. Failure to report an accident
If you fail to report an accident in which any person was injured or killed OR where either party had over $1,000 in damage, your license can be suspended. In this case, the suspension period is dependent on the situation.
5. Failure to appear in court for a traffic ticket (FTA)
You don’t need to appear in court for a traffic ticket as long as you pay the initial fine, but if you fail to do either, then your license will be suspended, usually until the issue is resolved. However, if you do appear in court, your license cannot be suspended for failure to pay.
6. Failure to pay child support
Section 17520 of the California Family Code mandates that your driver’s license be suspended for failure to pay child support. It will remain suspended until you make payment in full or resolve the issue via a satisfactory payment agreement.
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