(SEE BELOW FOR COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL) INFORMATION)

There is a difference between having your Louisiana driver’s license suspended and having it revoked.

• A suspension means you cannot drive for a certain period of time, but can get your license back later.
• A revocation of your license means your driver’s license is cancelled, and you will need to submit to an investigation before you can obtain another license.

Insurance companies keep a close watch on license suspensions / revocations. Your insurance premiums may go up drastically, and you may be labeled a “high-risk” customer. Even worse, your insurance company may cancel your policy, leaving you to search for insurance with the “high-risk” driver tag, meaning you’ll have to pay much higher premiums. It is recommended that you get in touch with a DUI/DWI lawyer as they are experts at handling such incidents and can offer you the best advice. Additionally, you will face Heavy Fines and Reinstatement Fees, and Points on your driver’s license! All this information can be found on our website. You could also contact Ticket Counsel absolutely FREE!!!

There are a variety of reasons why your Louisiana 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. Depending on the circumstances of your conviction, your suspension term may begin:

• When your current driver license expires.
• At the end of a current suspension/disqualification you are serving, if have multiple suspensions.
• 30 days after you receive a LA OMV suspended license notice.
• The day the statement of non-possession is received.
• At a LA OMV specified date, after you surrender your driver’s license.

You may be able to appeal your license suspension. See “Suspension Hearings in Louisiana” below.

The following are some of the most common reasons for a Louisiana driver’s license to be suspended or revoked.

• Excessive Moving Violations: The state of Louisiana does not operate on a point system. Instead they use the Problem Driver Pointer System to keep a track of traffic violations/suspension/revocations/cancellations, from other states as well. Your license will be suspended for excessive violations.
• Driving Under the Influence: Your Louisiana 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 21 years of age, and have blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.02% or more, you will be charged with DUI. If you are 21 and above, a BAC of 0.08% will get you convicted of a DUI. A 1st time offense will result in your license being suspended for 90 days, a 2nd, for 12 months, 3rd and 4th offenses for 24 months. In addition to this you might have to serve time in jail and also participate in an alcohol treatment program. Refusal to take a chemical test is also a reason for license suspension.
• 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. You may also be arrested if you are caught driving without a license.
• Driving without Insurance: All motor vehicles driven in Louisiana must be properly insured. Failure to provide proof of valid auto insurance can result in your license being suspended.
• Other Driving-Related Violations: Your Louisiana 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 not stopping for a school bus where passengers are getting on or of, using a motor vehicle to commit a felony, vehicular homicide or manslaughter, fleeing the scene of an accident and not giving aid, out of state convictions and being charged with reckless driving 3 times in 1 year, hit and run driving and fleeing from a police officer, and texting while driving.
• 
Physical or Psychological Disqualification: The Office of Motor Vehicles 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 an Office of Motor Vehicles notice or not appearing in court; failing to pay traffic tickets, fines or surcharges; and not paying child support. Other reasons include unlawful use of your license, illegally changing the information on your license, making false/incorrect statements while applying for a license or leaving out information altogether.

Convictions and violations that cause license suspensions will remain on your Louisiana driving record for different durations, depending on the type of the offense. Major convictions such as DWI convictions, vehicle negligent injury convictions and CDL out-of-service convictions remain on your driving record for 10 years. Other traffic violations that lead to suspensions will remain on your driving record for 5 years. Violations that don’t necessarily lead to suspensions will remain on your driving record for 3 years.

You may be able to dismiss traffic tickets and remove points from your driving record by completing an online defensive driving course. Because your driving record can affect your auto insurance rates and even your employment, it’s crucial that you make sure your information is accurate.

If you receive a notice of suspension from the OMV, and you wish to challenge the suspension, you may request a hearing in court. You can request an administrative hearing or re-hearing: In person: at your local Louisiana DMV, or by mail to:

• Office of Motor Vehicles
• O. Box 64886
• Baton Rouge, LA 70896

If you’d like to appeal the decision of an administrative hearing, you must contact your local Louisiana district court within 30 days of the decision.

NOTE: The Louisiana OMV may issue you a temporary driver’s license to use until your suspension hearing is held.

If you were suspended due to DUI, you can apply for a hearing within 15 days, for all other suspensions you can apply in 30 days. An administrative law judge or the OMV 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 excessive violations may be eligible to enroll in a Driver Improvement Program. 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 your Louisiana driver license is suspended, you may be eligible for a temporary hardship license, which allows you to drive to and from: work, school, and other necessary locations. To determine your eligibility and requirements, visit a Louisiana reinstatement office or call (225) 925-6146. To apply for a hardship license, you may need to:

• File a SR22 form with the LA OMV (available from your insurance company).
• Install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle.
• Submit a court order.
• Pay a fee.

NOTE: You cannot use a restricted hardship license to drive a commercial vehicle.

Your Louisiana OMV reinstatement fees will vary depending on the reason for your suspended drivers license. You may also need to pay additional court fines and fees before you can reinstate your license.

• DWI suspensions: First offense: $100. Second offense: $200. Third offense: $300.
• Suspension from failing/refusing a blood/breath test: $50.
• SR22 cancellation suspensions: $60.
• Other suspensions: $60.
• Credit card fee: $5.

For a complete list of fees to reinstate your Louisiana driver’s license, visit the LA DPS website. NOTE: For information about your specific reinstatement fees, please contact a Louisiana OMV reinstatement office or call (225) 925-6146.

ACCEPTED FORMS OF PAYMENT

• In person: Cash, money order, cashier’s check, certified check.
• By mail: Money order, cashier’s check, certified check.
• By phone: VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover credit/debit cards.

NOTE: The Louisiana OMV does not accept personal checks.

CDL’s are suspended more easily than standard licenses. This is because commercial drivers are held to very high standards. Commercial driver’s license (CDL) suspensions and disqualifications are regulated by both Louisiana state and federal laws. Federal suspension regulations controlled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) include:

• License disqualifications and fines for violating out-of-service orders.
• Suspensions and disqualifications ranging from 60 days to life for violations and convictions, such as Violating railroad-highway grade crossings, Excessive speeding and reckless driving, DUI/DWI and leaving the scene of an accident.

For more information on federal regulations and penalties, please see the FMCSA website. For information about your specific CDL suspension visit your local Louisiana OMV reinstatement office, call them at (225) 925-6146, 
or complete an online request on the LA DMV website. The Louisiana OMV will send you information regarding your specific circumstances by mail. To reinstate your CDL, please see “Reinstate Your Suspended Driver’s License” above.

NOTE: In addition to Louisiana DMV penalties, you may also face additional criminal charges from state/federal courts.

Your CDL will be suspended for 1 year, or 3 years if driving with hazardous materials, for violations including:

• DWI/DUI convictions and failing/refusing a BAC test.
• Felonies involving your vehicle.
• Hit and runs.
• Violations of your existing revocation, suspension, or disqualification.
• Texting and driving.

If you commit any of the above offenses more than once, your CDL will be disqualified permanently.

Your CDL will be suspended for 1 year if you receive 3 convictions for reckless driving within 12 months. If you drive with a suspended license, you may receive an additional 1-year suspension from the LA OMV.

Other violations that may result in a CDL suspension/disqualification include:

• Speeding 15 mph or more above the speed limit.
• Following too closely to other cars.
• Erratic lane changes.
• Commercial vehicle/truck accidents.
• Driving without the proper commercial driver’s license endorsements.

For information about your specific reinstatement requirements and suspension duration:

• Visit your local Louisiana DMV reinstatement office in person.
• Call the LA OMV at (225) 925-6146.
• Submit an online request on the LA OMV website.

NOTE: Some violations can result in the suspension or revocation of both your CDL and non-commercial driver’s license. For more information, please see our Suspended License in Louisiana page.

In Louisiana, you can be convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) if you are caught driving a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.04% or higher. If you are convicted of a DUI, your CDL will be disqualified for:

• 1 year for your 1st offense.
• 3 years for your 1st offense, if operating a commercial vehicle carrying hazardous material.
• Life for subsequent DUI offenses.

Depending on the circumstances of your offense, you may need to satisfy requirements from both the courts and the Louisiana OMV.

You may also face a suspension/revocation of your non-commercial driver’s license. For more information, please see our DUI & DWI in Louisiana page.

Depending on your violation, you may be able to request a Louisiana DMV administrative hearing if you don’t agree with your suspension. You must request a hearing within 30 days of your arrest or of receiving your driver’s license suspension notice. To request an administrative hearing or re-hearing, submit a request in person at your local Louisiana DMV office, or by mail to:

Office of Motor Vehicles

1. O. Box 64886

Baton Rouge, LA 70896

NOTE: If you’d like to appeal the decision of an administrative hearing, contact your local Louisiana district court within 30 days of the decision.

The requirements to reinstate your Louisiana CDL will vary depending on the reason for your suspension/disqualification. You may need to:

• Complete any court requirements/fines.
• Submit compliance documents to the LA OMV.
• Provide the LA OMV with an SR22 from your insurance company.
• Pay your commercial driver’s license reinstatement fees. (See “Fees to Reinstate Your Louisiana CDL” below.)

You will need to submit your documents and payment either:

• In person at your local Louisiana OMV reinstatement office. (Make sure the OMV office you visit can process reinstatements.) Or by mail to: Office of Motor Vehicles, 
P. O. Box 64886, 
Baton Rouge, LA 70896

CDL reinstatements completed in person will be processed immediately. Reinstatements by mail can take up to 10 business days. If you’ve already submitted your commercial driver’s license suspension compliance documents, you can pay your reinstatement fees by calling the Louisiana DMV at (225) 925-6146.

For more information, please visit your local Louisiana OMV reinstatement office, or call the number above.