You’ve probably heard the saying, “Driving is not a right, it’s a privilege.” Well, that is definitely the way the state sees it. A lot of drivers mistakenly believe that they can only get their license suspended for having too many speeding tickets and for driving while intoxicated (DWI) when in actual fact, there are multiple ways to get your licensed suspended or withdrawn.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), “DPS is required to withdraw a person’s driver license or driving privilege for specific violations and convictions of state law.”
So, if your Texas driver license was suspended, canceled, or otherwise disqualified, you should receive a letter from the DPS notifying you. However, if the DPS does not have your current address on file, you may not receive this notice and you could be driving illegally without knowing it.
Why Would a License Be Suspended or Withdrawn?
Let’s take a look at the various reasons why a Texas driver license would be suspended or withdrawn:
- Having too many points on your record (traffic offenses). This comes down to having four or more moving violations within a 12-month period, or having seven or more moving violations within a 24-month period.
- A conviction for a drug or alcohol-related DWI.
- A crash suspension.
- Driving on a suspended license.
- Drug-related offenses. If someone is convicted of a drug or controlled substance offense, their Texas driver license will be suspended for 180 days.
- Alcohol offenses committed by minors (e.g. purchasing alcohol, consuming alcohol, public intoxication, and misrepresenting age).
- Out-of-state convictions, suspensions, and unpaid traffic citations.
- Truancy, which is the failure to attend school.
Has your licensed been suspended, canceled, or denied for one of the above reasons? Or, are you facing DWI or drug-related charges? In either case, contact our firm to meet with a Plano criminal defense attorney. We can help you sort out your driver license situation.