A suspended license is a ruling applied to drivers that made several traffic violations. Having a suspended license is a definite hassle no matter who you are. Worse, you can even be disqualified as a driver if you make the wrong move.
There are many reasons drivers’ licenses get suspended. Although a lot of them are due to driving or traffic-related offenses, there are some non-traffic violations that can also lead to suspension of your driver’s license.
Plenty of reasons are set in place to suspend drivers’ licenses. However, there are some offenses that people commonly commit. Read on below to find out what are the most common reasons people get their license suspended.
1. Point Accumulation
Offenses such as speeding, broken license conditions, and alcohol-related cases are some of the ways that you can receive demerit points.
You acquire demerit points for every traffic offense you commit. These points can stack up and lead to a suspended license.
If you receive up to a hundred or more demerit points within two years, this is when you will get your license suspended for three months.
Each demerit point will last for up to two years so if you create more traffic offenses within this time period, you are likely to accumulate a significant amount that can lead to a suspended license.
2. License Suspension Proceedings for Multiple Violations
Having multiple violations will certainly lead to a license suspension. Again, the demerit points can stack up and when you reach a hundred demerit points, you will get your license suspended for three months.
It is important to note that there are traffic violations that results to 50 demerit points. This is especially true for any drug or alcohol-related offense. This is already half of the required number of demerit points needed to get a license suspended!
The smallest number of demerit points that you can acquire at one time is 10 points. This is from a person who produces a logbook that has around 1 to 5 omissions.
No matter how small the traffic violation is, if done over and over, the points do stack up. Before you know it, it can reach a hundred.
3. Serious Offenses
If you are caught by police officers drinking and driving on multiple occasions, this is a serious offense. Police officers will then have the ability to give you a 28-day suspension of license on the spot.
Also, if you refuse to undergo a blood test as requested by police officers, you can be viable for a 28-day roadside suspension. There are numerous other serious offenses that can lead to a 28-day roadside suspension effective immediately.
The 28-day roadside suspension is instant given the fact that this is incurred when drivers commit offenses that put the lives of others in danger. Other more severe offenses will not only lead to suspension of driver’s license, but it may also lead to an overall disqualification of you as a driver.
4. Driving Record Inaccuracies
Sometimes, there are clerical errors in the system that can lead to unwanted and inaccurate recallings of your driving history. If you find that you have a higher number of demerit points than you know, it may be time to check up on your driving records.
There are two types of driving records that you can get. One is the Demerit Points and Suspension History Report. This contains a record of your entire demerit points and suspensions within the last seven years.
The other driving record is the Demerit Point Summary. This summary contains active demerit points on your record that you acquired within the last two years. This also includes the demerit points that are active after a suspended license.
If you want to get a copy of your driving record, you may contact the transport agency near you for any questions or other concerns regarding your driving record.
5. Driving Without Insurance
There are some countries, like New Zealand, that does not require car owners to have an insurance. However, it is practical that you get your car insured.
Driving without insurance not only removes you from financial protection during an accident. You may also end up unable to use your car. Plus, your license can be suspended should you ever get a citation or fined hefty fees.
Depending on the state, your car may be impounded and you have to pay additional fees and get a driver’s license suspension when you get caught without insurance.
Before you buy a car, you might as well save enough money for auto insurance. This will not only help you in case you get into an accident. It will also prevent your license from getting suspended.
6. Plain Ol’ Forgetfulness
If you are not aware of the number of demerit points in your driving record, you may not know just how close you are to getting to a hundred demerit points. As you know, a hundred demerit points lead to a suspended license for three months.
Being forgetful is not a helpful trait when you have pending or active demerit points on your record. Aside from that, your license may get a suspension once a judge issues a stop order. This usually happens when a driver forgets to pay off their fines or tickets.
The Ministry of Justice issues the stop order and can suspend your license until you pay for your fines. They can also lift the suspension if you set up an arrangement on how you plan to pay for the accumulated fines or tickets.
Avoid Having Your Driver’s License Suspended
You can easily avoid having your driver’s license suspended as long as you are aware of your demerit points. Significantly, you should avoid poor driving practices such as driving while under the influence of alcohol.
If a driver’s license suspension costs you quite a lot and would cause difficulties in how you live your life, you need to apply for a limited license which will allow you to drive only for specific reasons and only during specific times.
Otherwise, you will just have to wait until the suspension is lifted after three months before you are legally allowed to drive in the roads again.
