Maryland Driver License Suspension

Maryland DUI commercial driver s license suspension can cost you your job, now and in the future. For quality DUI defense, call Robinson Associates.

Suspended License Information for Maryland

A driver s license suspension is defined as the temporary withholding of driving privileges. An offender s license is withheld for a given period then returned.

Reinstate Your Suspended Maryland Drivers License

A Maryland Driver s License Suspension Lawyer can help if you are facing a driver s license suspension or if your license has already been suspended.

A personal driving record can be obtained via the Maryland MVA. Another more convenient, potentially faster option is to get a copy of your driver record from our approved partner. These documents contain the same state-approved screening information offered by the MVA.

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Driver License Suspension in Maryland

If your Maryland driver s license is suspended or revoked by the Motor Vehicle Administration MVA, you ll need to satisfy your suspension requirements to have it reinstated.

Your driver s license may be suspended for reasons including:

Failing to pay a traffic ticket.

Accumulating too many driving record points.

Being medically unfit, as determined by the Medical Advisory Board.

Violating a driver s license restriction.

Refusing to take an alcohol breath test.

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol DUI/DWI convictions.

On this page, you ll find information about your suspension and how to reinstate your license.

About Your Suspended License in MD

The duration of your license suspension and your reinstatement requirements will vary depending on your violation.

When your driver s license is suspended or revoked, the Maryland MVA will mail you a notice of suspension or revocation.

You must surrender your driver s license to the Maryland MVA by the date noted on your suspension notice or your suspension period will be extended.

You can surrender your driver s license in person or by mail to any Maryland MVA office or to:

Administrative Adjudication Division

Your license can be suspended:

For at least 6 months, if you violate a driver license restriction.

Until you meet the court s requirements if your fail to satisfy a traffic citation.

If you accumulate too many driving points on your driving record.

For 45 days to 1 year, if you fail or refuse to submit to an alcohol test, depending on the circumstances of the incident.

Depending on the number of revocations you ve had, you must wait 6 – 24 months to reinstate a revoked driver s license.

NOTE: Depending on your offense, you may also receive additional court suspensions and other penalties.

Check Your Driver License Status

If you accumulate too many driving record points within 2 years, the Maryland DMV will suspend or revoke your driver s license.

Send you a warning letter after 3 – 4 points.

Require you to complete a Driver Improvement Program after 5 – 7 points.

Suspend your driver s license after 8 – 11 points.

Revoke your driver s license after 12 or more points.

You can check your driver license status and how many points you have by ordering your Maryland driving record.

Suspension Hearings in Maryland

If you do not agree with your Maryland DMV license suspension/revocation, you can request a MVA administrative hearing.

NOTE: Maryland MVA hearings have no effect on criminal court decisions.

If you d like to request a hearing, you must do so:

Within 15 days: For driving record points suspensions.

Before your suspension date: For restriction violation suspensions.

Within 30 days of receiving your suspension: For alcohol-related suspensions or refusing a blood alcohol tests.

NOTE: If you request a hearing within 10 days, your driver s license will not be suspended before your hearing.

To request a Maryland MVA administrative hearing, follow the instructions provided with your suspension/revocation notice. You ll need:

A check/money order made payable to Maryland State Treasurer for the 150 filing fee.

For non-alcohol offenses, mail your request to:

For alcohol-related suspensions including failing to submit a blood alcohol test, mail your request to:

For suspensions/revocations required by the Medical Advisory Board, contact the MVA Driver Wellness and Safety Division to request a hearing:

Driver Wellness and Safety Division

Reinstate Your Suspended License in Maryland

The requirements to reinstate your suspended Maryland driver s license will depend on your offense.

NOTE: You may also need to satisfy additional court requirements if your suspension/revocation was caused by a criminal conviction.

Generally, to reinstate your suspended driver license you ll need to:

Wait out the duration of your suspension.

Complete a Driver Improvement Program, if necessary.

Satisfy the requirements of a citation, if applicable.

Pay any applicable fees or fines.

You may also need to apply for a duplicate driver s license when you reinstate your license.

Please refer to your Maryland DMV suspension/revocation notice for specific details about your reinstatement.

If the Medical Advisory Board suspended your license, you may need to request a hearing. Please see Suspension Hearings in Maryland above.

NOTE: If your driver s license has been expired for longer than 1 year while it is suspended, you ll need to apply for a new driver s license.

Has Your Car Insurance Gone Up with Your Suspension.

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Reinstate a Revoked Driver s License

To reinstate a revoked driver s license, you ll need to:

Wait out your revocation period.

Visit or call the Maryland MVA Driver Wellness and Safety Division.

In person: 6601 Ritchie Highway, Glen Burnie, MD 21062.

Request a reinstatement and provide your:

The Maryland MVA will review your driving record and determine if you re eligible for a reinstatement. You will either receive a denial notice or a reinstatement application.

If you are eligible, you ll need to:

Return your completed application and reinstatement fee to the MVA Driver Wellness and Safety Division for a final approval. See Fees to Reinstate Your MD Driver s License below.

Bring your reinstatement approval notice to your local Maryland MVA office and apply for a new driver s license.

NOTE: You may be required to pass a knowledge, driving, and vision exam.

Obtain a Restricted Driver s License

If your driver s license is suspended, the Maryland MVA will determine your eligibility for a restricted driver s license that allows you to drive:

After installing an ignition interlock device for alcohol/drug-related suspensions.

Contact the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration for more information.

E-mail: MVACS mdot.state.md.us.

Fees to Reinstate Your MD Suspended License

The fees to reinstate your suspended or revoked Maryland driver s license differ depending on your offense.

Some fees you may need to pay include:

Duplicate driver s license: 20.

New driver s license under 21 years old : 9/year.

New driver license 21 years old and up : 72 or 9/year.

Reinstatement for Medical Advisory Board suspensions: 45 or 75, depending on your medical impairment.

For specific fees relating to your suspension/revocation, please refer to your suspension notice or contact the MD MVA.

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration accepts the following forms of payment:

Check made payable to Motor Vehicle Administration. Must include your driver s license number and phone number.

VISA, MasterCard, and American Express credit/debit card.

By mail: Check made payable to Motor Vehicle Administration.

Must include your driver s license number and phone number.

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While some motorists regard driving as a basic right, the fact is that operating a motor vehicle is a privilege that must be earned and maintained by demonstrating safe and lawful driving. Under certain circumstances, an individual s Maryland driver s license may be suspended or revoked for a specific length of time, depending on the person s driving record or history, and the particular violation s.

REASONS FOR DRIVER S LICENSE SUSPENSIONS

There are a variety of reasons why your Maryland driver s license might be suspended. Some of these are related to specific driving violations, while others may be due to violation of other State laws. Following are some of the most common reasons for a Maryland driver s license to be suspended or revoked.

Excessive Moving Violations. The state of Maryland operates on a point system, in which drivers accumulate points on their license for every moving violation they commit. If you accumulate 8 to11 points within two years, your license will be suspended. The Motor Vehicle Administration will send you a notice informing you of this. If you accumulate 12 or more points within a two year driving period, your license will be revoked

Driving Under the Influence. Your Maryland driver s license will be suspended if you are found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The length of the suspension depends on the severity of the violation and whether it is a first or repeat offense. If you are charged with driving while intoxicated, DWI, 12 points are added to your license and your license is automatically revoked. If charged with DUI, 8 points are added to your license. If you refuse to take the test and are later cleared of the charges, you can still face a suspension from 120 days to a year. If your license was revoked due to DUI, you will have to attend an Alcohol Education Program before you can reapply for a new license.

Driving with a Suspended License or no License. Driving with a suspended license will lead to an increase in the length of the suspension, and you may also be imprisoned for up to five years. The duration of the additional suspension varies depending on the reason for the underlying suspension. Your driver s license may also be suspended if you do not have your license with you while you are driving.

Driving without Insurance. All motor vehicles driven in Maryland must be properly insured. Failure to provide proof of valid auto insurance can result in your license being suspended.

Other Driving-Related Violations. Your Maryland driver s license may also be suspended if you engage in reckless driving, are found to be at fault in a fatal accident, or if you abandon your vehicle on a public highway. Other reasons include stealing a motor vehicle or any part of a motor vehicle, stealing gas, speeding, leaving the scene of an accident without giving aid or your identity, being convicted of reckless driving three times in one year, unlawful use of either your driver s license or another s to buy liquor, fleeing from the police, using a motor vehicle to commit a crime and homicide involving a motor vehicle.

Physical or Psychological Disqualification. The Motor Vehicle Administration can order a re-examination of any person who may not be fit to drive. An individual s driving privileges may be suspended if the re-examination finds they are physically or psychologically unable to drive safely.

Non-Driving Reasons for License Suspension. A variety of non-driving violations or issues can result in your license being suspended. These include: not responding to a Motor Vehicle Administration notice or not appearing in court; failing to pay traffic tickets, fines or surcharges; and not paying child support.

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR MARYLAND DRIVER S LICENSE IS SUSPENDED

Having your Maryland driver s license suspended is a serious matter and it is essential to adhere to State law in the event that your license is suspended. If you believe your license may be suspended due to one of the reasons listed above it is advisable to speak with a traffic ticket lawyer or a DUI-DWI lawyer.

The three most important things to be aware of following a license suspension are:

If your license has not already been taken away from you in court, you must surrender it to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration. You can surrender your license in person at a MVA Office, or mail it to:

www.mva.maryland.gov/Hours-Locations

While your license is suspended, you are not permitted to drive. If you are found driving with a suspended license, you may be imprisoned for up to five years, and/or the length of your suspension may be increased.

After your suspension is over, you will receive a written notice of restoration, with instructions on how to restore your license. Do not drive until you have completed the necessary steps and received a valid, replacement license from the Maryland MVA.

You may be eligible for a restricted hardship license, where the MVA might allow you to drive with restrictions on your license.

If you receive a notice of suspension from the MVA, and you wish to challenge the suspension, you may request a hearing in court. If the suspension is due to points, you will have 15 days in which you can schedule a hearing. An administrative law judge or the MVA Chief Administrator will hear your case, and determine whether your driver s license should be suspended or not. In addition, drivers whose license may be suspended due to accumulating excessive points may be eligible to enroll in a Driver Improvement Program. Completing a Driver Improvement Program may remove points from the current driving record, and in some cases can enable an individual to avoid having his license suspended.

It is also a good idea to seek the advice of a traffic ticket lawyer or a DUI-DWI lawyer, based on the reason for the suspension.

If you had your license revoked because you accumulated 12 or more points on your license or because of DUI, you may be eligible to have your license reinstated after a particular period of time. The time period depends on the number of times you have had your license revoked.

One revocation - six month waiting period

Two revocations - twelve month waiting period

Three revocations- eighteen month waiting period

Four or more- twenty four month waiting period.

If you feel you have met the requirements to have your license reinstated you will have to:

Contact the MVA s Driver Wellness and Safety Division. If the Division feels that you are eligible, a form will be mailed to you, else a letter explaining otherwise will be sent.

Return it to the division with the appropriate here Once the application has been received, a decision will be taken to either deny or grant the license. A letter will be sent to you notifying you of the same.

If the answer is in the affirmative, you will need to take the letter to any MVA branch office and apply for a new license.

If you have been denied the license you can appeal the decision. You will have to contact the MVA s Driver Wellness and Safety Division about the procedure for this.

Note that after your license is restored, you may be subject to a probation period during which any new violations may result in an additional suspension of your Maryland driver s license. In addition, if you lost your license due to DUI, it might be reinstated with an alcohol restriction and might be valid for up to 3 years. You will need to contact the MVA Administrative Adjudication Division to ask for it to be removed.

• Driver License Suspension in Maryland If your Maryland driver s license is suspended or revoked by the Motor Vehicle Administration MVA, you ll need to satisfy your.
• Suspension for a Traffic Citation in Maryland. Your Maryland driver s license will be suspended the record of your suspension will remain on your driver.
• APPEALING A SUSPENSION If you receive a notice of suspension from the MVA, and you wish to challenge the suspension, you may request a hearing in court.