Download Virginia Driving Laws: Suspensions, Revocations, and Penalties and more Exercises Law in PDF only on Docsity!
If you break certain laws or
repeatedly violate the laws of Virginia, your driving privilege may be suspended or revoked by the court and/or DMV.
If your license is suspended , your privilege to drive has been withdrawn temporarily. You may pay the required fees and reinstate your license at the end of the suspension period. Also, you will be required to show proof of legal presence, which means you are either a U.S. citizen or legally authorized by the federal government to be in the U.S. During the suspension period, if your license has been expired for one year or more, you must show proof of legal presence and pass the two-part knowledge, road skills and vision exams to have your driving privilege reinstated.
Revocation means that your privilege to drive has been terminated. Your driving privilege may be restored if you re-apply for a driver’s license and show proof of legal presence after the revocation period has passed. You must successfully complete the vision screening, two-part knowledge exam and road skills tests and pay the required fees when you re-apply.
Conviction-Related Suspensions and
Revocations
The court or DMV will suspend or revoke your privilege to drive if you are convicted of any of the following offenses: operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI) injuring another person as a result of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs operating a motor vehicle while suspended or revoked for a DUI operating a motor vehicle that is not equipped with the ignition interlock device when it is required by the court or DMV making a false statement to DMV failing to stop and identify yourself at the scene of a crash if someone has been injured or killed voluntary or involuntary manslaughter resulting from driving a motor vehicle involuntary manslaughter resulting from operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol committing a motor vehicle-related drug offense committing a felony involving the use of a motor vehicle taking a driver’s license exam for another person, or appearing for another person to renew a license eluding police
In this section you’ll learn about:
License suspension License revocation Conviction-related suspensions and revocations Other DMV requirements, suspensions and revocations Driver Improvement Program Medical review program Insurance monitoring program Suspension for failing to satisfy child support-related requirements Alcohol and the law Administrative License Suspension Open alcohol containers in vehicles Transporting children while under the influence of alcohol/drugs Vehicle impoundment Restitution Alcohol related violations and penalties involving persons under age 21
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Section 5:
Penalties
The court may suspend or revoke your driving privilege if you are convicted of the following offenses:
reckless or aggressive driving operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license driving while your license is revoked or suspended for a non-DUI related conviction refusing to take a blood/breath test when charged with driving while under the influence of alcohol/drugs
Refer to the DMV website under Reinstating Driving Privileges and Restricted Driving Privileges for information on other reasons for suspensions/revocations, requirements to reinstate your driving privilege, and eligibility for restricted driving privileges.
Other DMV Requirements,
Suspensions and Revocations
Driver Improvement Program
If you are a Virginia resident, DMV is responsible for maintaining a driving record of all convictions received from the court. When convictions are added to your record, DMV assigns demerit points to traffic offenses and moving violations. DMV also monitors your driving record to see how many demerit points you receive within a 12-month and 24-month period. Convictions may be assigned three, four or six demerit points. For more information, refer to the Moving Violations and Points Assessment (DMV 115) publication available at www.dmvNOW.com or DMV customer service centers.
Under Age 18: If you are convicted of a demerit point traffic violation (or safety belt/child restraint violation) committed when you were under age 18, DMV will require that you complete a driver improvement clinic. If you do not complete the clinic within 90 days, DMV will suspend your driving privilege until you complete the clinic and pay a reinstatement fee.
After your second conviction for a demerit point traffic violation (or safety belt/child restraint violation) committed when you were under age 18, DMV will suspend your driving privilege for 90 days. Your third conviction will result in a revocation of your driving privilege for one year or until you reach age 18, whichever is longer.
Age 18 or 19: DMV will require you to complete a driver improvement clinic if you are convicted of a demerit point or safety belt/child restraint violation committed while you were age 18 or 19.
Age 18 or Older: DMV will require you to complete a driver improvement clinic if you accumulate 12 demerit points within 12 months or 18 points within 24 months. If you do not complete the clinic within 90 days, DMV will suspend your driving privilege.
If you receive 18 demerit points within 12 months or 24 points within 24 months, DMV will suspend your driving privilege for 90 days and require that you complete a driver improvement clinic.
For more detailed information on the Driver Improvement Program for juveniles and adults and the actions taken by DMV, refer to www.dmvNOW.com or A Different Kind of Crash Course (DMV 114) brochure.
Medical Review Program
DMV is responsible for making sure that drivers are able to safely operate motor vehicles. When DMV receives a report that a driver may have a physical or mental condition that affects his ability to drive safely, a medical review of the driver may be conducted. DMV is concerned about any condition that impairs the driver’s: level of consciousness perception (vision) judgment motor skills
Depending upon the situation, DMV may require you to submit a medical or vision report completed by your physician and/or to pass the two-part knowledge exam and/or road skills test.
Once the medical review is completed, DMV will decide whether to: suspend your driving privilege restrict your driving privilege require you to submit periodic medical and/or vision reports, or end the medical review with no other requirements
If DMV suspends your driving privilege as a result of medical review action, you will not be required to present legal presence proof documents to reinstate your driving privilege unless required to do so for another suspension/revocation or your license expires.
Refer to the DMV publication, Medical Fitness for Safe Driving (MED 80), for more detailed information on the Medical Review Program.
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Alcohol Related Violations and Penalties
Involving Persons Under Age 21
Purchasing/Consuming Alcohol: If you are under age 21, you cannot purchase, possess or consume alcohol. If you are convicted of driving after illegally consuming alcohol, and your BAC was at least .02 percent and less than .08 percent, the court penalty will include:
a suspension of your driving privilege for one year from the date of conviction, and a minimum mandatory fine of $500, or the requirement that you complete at least 50 hours of community service.
If you are convicted of driving after illegally consuming alcohol and your BAC was .08 percent or higher, you may face the same penalties as an adult.
Providing Alcoholic Beverages: If you provide or sell alcoholic beverages to a person under age 21 or someone who is intoxicated or ordered by a court to refrain from drinking alcohol, you are subject to a fine up to $2,500, mandatory suspension of your driver’s license for up to one year, and 12 months in jail.
Misrepresentation of Age: If you are under age 21 and you use or attempt to use a fake ID to establish a false age in an attempt to drink or purchase alcohol, you will:
be fined at least $ be required to perform at least 50 hours of community service face up to 12 months in jail, and face mandatory suspension of your driver’s license for at least six months but not more than one year
