Texas Driver's License Suspension

To keep Texas roads as safe as possible, the law is designed to remove unfit drivers before they can cause harm to others through irresponsible behavior. A driver may be deemed unfit for a variety of reasons. A person's mental or physical health may deteriorate to the point where they cannot safely operate their vehicle. More often than not, a person engages in dangerous and illegal behavior behind the wheel, and the courts decide whether or not their license should be suspended or revoked and for how long.

Reasons For Suspension And Revocation

The Texas Transportation Code gives TxDPS the legal authority to seek the suspension of a person's driver's license if it determines that the person:
  • Has driven a motor vehicle on a highway while their license was suspended, canceled, disqualified, or revoked, or while driving without a license after an application for a license was denied;
  • Is a driver who is reckless or negligent regularly;
  • Is a habitual violator of traffic laws (four convictions in the last 12 months or seven convictions in the last 24 months);
  • Has allowed the person's license to be used illegally or fraudulently;
  • Has committed an offense in another state that would be grounds for suspension if committed in this state;
  • Has been convicted of two or more separate offenses involving a violation of a license restriction;
  • Has been a driver in an accident that resulted in serious personal injury or serious property damage;
  • Is under the age of 18 and has been convicted of two or more moving violations within the last year; or
  • Has violated Section 545.421 (fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer).
Similarly, the Texas Transportation Code specifies five actions that will result in TxDPS seeking to revoke a person's driver's license if TxDPS determines that the person:
  • Is unable to operate a motor vehicle safely;
  • Has failed to comply with the terms of a citation issued by a jurisdiction party to the Nonresident Violator Compact of 1977 for a traffic violation to which the compact applies;
  • Has failed to provide medical records or to submit to medical or other examinations as required by a medical advisory board panel;
  • Has failed to pass a director-required examination under this chapter; or
  • Has committed an offense in another state that would be grounds for revocation if committed in this state

Driving With Suspended License Criminal Charge

In many states, driving on a suspended or revoked license is a class C misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $500. Driving on a suspended or revoked license, on the other hand, is a class B misdemeanor—a more serious offense—if:
  • You were previously convicted of driving while your license is suspended or revoked.
  • You lacked insurance at the time of your offense, or
  • Your license was revoked because you were driving while intoxicated.
A class B misdemeanor is punishable by 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Driving on a suspended or revoked license can also be a class A misdemeanor in certain circumstances, such as if you were driving without insurance and caused a serious injury or death to another person. Class A misdemeanors are punishable by up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Suspension Duration

A hearing officer in court will determine the length of your suspension based on your age and a few other factors. Suspensions for moving violations are typically for 30, 60, or 90 days. Drivers over the age of 21 who are convicted of DUI will have their licenses suspended for two years, while drivers under the age of 21 will have their licenses suspended for one year (though this can be extended by 180 days and 90 days if the young driver does not complete an Alcohol Education Program or is required to install an ignition interlock device, respectively).

Reinstate Your Suspended Driver's License

If you have had your license suspended, you must wait out the suspension period and pay the reinstatement fee. You can also choose to contest the suspension, but you must do so at the start of the process and present a strong case for why your license should not be suspended. A reinstatement fee is typical $125. There is a small fee if you pay with a credit card online. If an occupational license is obtained, a fee of $10 is levied for each year that it is in effect.