Suspended – Revoked License in Indiana

There are a variety of reasons why your Indiana 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. The following are some of the most common reasons for an Indiana driver’s license to be suspended or revoked. A suspension will become effective 18 days after the notice of suspension is sent to you (unless otherwise indicated by IN law or by the court).

• Excessive Moving Violations: The state of Indiana operates on a point system, in which drivers accumulate points on their license for every moving violation they commit. If you accumulate 18 or more points on your current driver record, you will be called for an administrative hearing by the BMV. At this hearing, a decision will be taken to place you on probation or to suspend your license or for you to take a driving course: Driver Safety Program (DSP) or Defensive Driving Course (DDC).
• Driving Under the Influence: Your Indiana 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 fail the blood alcohol test, your license may be suspended for up to 6 months. A refusal to take the test will result in your license being taken away immediately and a suspension of up to 2 years. If your blood alcohol content is more than 0.08%, your license may be suspended for up to 90 days or 2 years. Being convicted of operating while intoxicated means the Court and state laws base your suspension or revocation period on your age, offense number (e.g., 1st, offense, 2nd offense, etc.), and your blood alcohol content (BAC). Learn more about OWI suspension and other penalties at our DUI & DWI in Indiana
• 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 5 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. If you are found driving with a suspended license you will have to face a further 90-day to 2-year suspension period along with your current suspension time.
• Driving without Insurance: All motor vehicles driven in Indiana must be properly insured. Failure to provide proof of valid auto insurance will result in your license being suspended for 90 days on your 1st offense, and 1 year for repeat offenses within 3 years. If you’re required to show proof of insurance, you’ll need to do so prior to reinstating your license. You may be required to submit an Affidavit of Current Insurance (SR50) or a Proof of Future Financial Responsibility (SR22). Proof of insurance must be submitted electronically by your insurance provider, and submitted to the DMV before your license can be reinstated.
• Other Driving-Related Violations: Your Indiana 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 failing to yield to an emergency vehicle, not completing a compulsory driver improvement course and out-of-state tickets.
• Physical or Psychological Disqualification: The BMV 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 Bureau of Motor Vehicles notice or not appearing in court; failing to pay traffic tickets, fines or surcharges; not paying child support, owing money to the BMV due to bounced checks.
• Expulsion from School: If you have left school or been expelled from it, your license is liable to be suspended.
• Habitual Traffic Offenders: If you have been charged and found guilty of any of the following offenses within a 10-year period, you will be considered a habitual traffic offender and will have to face a 10-year suspension period, however, if 2 major offenses relate to OWI, typically the suspension is for life. The offenses include:

2-Major Offenses which result in injury or death, including:

• Reckless homicide while operating a motor vehicle.
• Voluntary or involuntary manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle.
• Fleeing from the scene of an accident, which involves death or injury and not providing information or assistance.
• Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, which results in death.
• Operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of more than 0.08%, which results in death.

3-Major Offenses including:

• Driving with a BAC of more than 0.08%.
• Driving with a suspended license, the reason of suspension being the motor vehicle was used in a crime.
• Reckless driving.
• Operating a motor vehicle without a license.
• Drag racing and speeding.
• Using a motor vehicle for a criminal recklessness.
• Fleeing the scene of an accident or filing an accident report.
• Any crime in which a motor vehicle is used.
• Any of the offenses listed in the section before this.

OR – if you accumulate 10 moving violations, including 1 major offense, within 10 years; OR – if you drive with a license that’s been suspended for HTV.

If you are found driving with a suspension due to the above, you will be guilty of a crime and could lose your driving privileges for life.

If you receive a notice of suspension from the BMV, and you wish to challenge the suspension, you may request a hearing in court. An administrative law judge or a BMV representative 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 removes 4 points from the current driving record for the next 3 years, 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. You can also contact the BMV Customer Contact Center for more information by phone at (888) 692-6841 or via e-mail.

Licenses can be reinstated for the following suspensions:

• Out-of-state tickets that have been paid.
• Defensive driving reinstatements.
• For not showing proof of insurance for a three year period following an accident or traffic violation.
• For not showing proof of insurance for a compulsory three year period.
• For not showing current proof of insurance.
• For not paying a ticket or failing to appear in court.

You will receive a notice from the BMV after you have completed your suspension period. The notice will include complete instructions regarding how to get your license back. Generally, you will need to:

• Visit a reinstatement center.
• If your license was suspended for a writing a check that bounced at the BMV, you can reinstate your license by contacting the Administrative office at the address given below:

Indian Government Center North

100 North State Avenue, Room N440

Indianapolis, IN 46204

• Apply for a standard license renewal to obtain a new license. The reinstatement fees are:
  • For the 1st reinstatement – $150
  • For the 2nd – $225
  • For the 3rd & subsequent – $300

You can pay your reinstatement fee:

• Online: Use your account.
• By mail: Accepted payment includes: credit or debit card, check, or money order payable to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. DO NOT SEND CASH. Then mail everything to the address listed on the Reinstatement Fee Coupon.

Note that after you license is restored, you may be subject to a probation period during which any new violations may result in an additional suspension of your Indiana driver’s license.

CDL’s are suspended more easily than standard licenses. This is because commercial drivers are held to very high standards. The IN BMV works with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to regulate commercial driving laws. You are required to notify your employer within 30 days of any traffic conviction. Also, you must notify your employer of any license suspension, revocation, or cancellation, and give them information regarding all your driving jobs you’ve had over the past 10 years.

Committing any of the following offenses leads to a disqualified or suspended commercial driver’s license (CDL): Major Offenses, Serious Traffic Violations, Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing (RRHGC) offenses while operating a commercial motor vehicle (CMV), and Violating Out-Of-Service Orders (OOSO) while operating a CMV.

Note: Your license can be suspended for out-of-state convictions. If you are NOT an Indiana resident, your home state will still receive a notice.

MAJOR OFFENSES:

• Alcohol- and drug-related offenses, such as having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04%, or refusing to take a blood or breath test (violating the implied consent law).
• Leaving the scene of an accident.
• Using the commercial vehicle to commit a felony, including the manufacturing and distributing of a controlled substance.
• Causing a death due to negligent CMV operation.

Operating a commercial vehicle while you have a disqualified, suspended, or revoked commercial driver’s license: You can possibly be fined up to $5,000 or even be put in jail for driving without a valid CMV. Also, employers must not allow their drivers who have disqualified CDLs to drive a commercial vehicle, and can also be fined up to $5,000 or jailed for doing so.

Whether in a CMV or a non-CMV, major offenses can lead to IN CDL disqualification. The length of time your Indiana commercial driver’s license will be disqualified is based on how many violations you’ve committed:

• 1st violation: 1 year. (3 years if transporting hazardous materials.)
• 2nd violation: Lifetime disqualification. (Possible eligibility for CDL reinstatement after 10 years.)

SERIOUS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS:

• Reckless driving or excessive speeding.
• Improperly changing lanes.
• Following other vehicles too closely.
• Violating any motor vehicle traffic control law that results in a fatal accident.
• Operating a CMV without a CDL, without a CDL on your person, or without the proper CDL endorsements.

SERIOUS TRAFFIC VIOLATION PENALTIES:

• 1st violation: No disqualification.
• 2nd violation within 3 years: 60 days.
• 3rd violation within 3 years: 120 days.

Serious violations committed in a non-commercial vehicle won’t be included UNLESS the violation leads to the suspension, revocation, or cancellation of your license or your regular (non-commercial) driving privileges.

RAILROAD HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING VIOLATIONS:

RRHGC Violations are offenses related to how you operate your Indiana CMV when crossing a railroad. Examples of such violations include:

• Failing to slow down and make sure the tracks are clear.
• Failing to stop when required.
• Driving across the tracks when there isn’t sufficient space for the CMV.

RAILROAD HIGHWAY GRADE CROSSING PENALTIES:

• 1st violation: Minimum of 60 days.
• 2nd violation within 3 years: Minimum of 120 days.
• 3rd violation, or any subsequent violations within 3 years: At least 1 year.

OUT-OF-SERVICE ORDER VIOLATIONS:

OOSO Violations of are divided into Category 1 and Category 2 offenses.

Category 1

Category 1 includes those related to vehicles designed to transport at least 16 passengers and those that carry hazardous materials. Category 1 violations come with the following CDL disqualification periods in Indiana:

• 1st violation: Between 180 days and 2 years.
• 2nd violation within 10 years: 3 to 5 years.

Category 2

Category 2 includes violations by drivers NOT in Category 1, and come with the following CDL disqualification periods:

• 1st violation: Between 180 days and 1 year.
• 2nd violation within 10 years: 2 to 5 years.
• 3rd violation: 3 to 5 years.

Financial penalties can also come hand in hand with OSOO violations:

• 1st conviction: Minimum $2,500 fine.
• 2nd convictions (or subsequent convictions): Minimum $5,000 fine.

For even more detailed information on CDL penalties and laws, you can refer to:

• Indiana CDL Manual
• FMCSA Commercial Driver’s License Program