Why was my driver\’s license suspended?

Have you received a notice in the mail from the California Department of Motor Vehicles saying that your driver\’s license has been suspended? Did this surprise you? If so, you are not alone as many times such notification does not happen directly after another event and may not always be understood.

According to the Supreme Court of California, there are several reasons for which the state DMV may end up issuing a suspension of your driving privileges. Interestingly, two of those reasons have nothing to do with driving at all. One is for the failure to pay child support as ordered by a court and the other is for acts of vandalism.

While the remaining causes of a drivers\’ license suspension do relate to driving, the suspension may still be unexpected. For example, if you overlooked paying the fine you were required to pay for a traffic ticket, your license could be suspended. The same thing can happen if you fail to carry approved automobile insurance or do not report a vehicle accident. Refusing a substance test, being convicted of impaired driving and consuming alcohol if you are 20 years old or younger may also result in a drivers\’ license suspension. Finally, if you end up with too many points on your driving record, the DMV could suspend your license. 

This information is not intended to provide legal advice but is instead meant to give California residents an overview of the types of situations that may end up finding them without the legal right to drive for some period of time.