Question: I was just talking with someone the other day and they were telling me they had their driver’s license suspended for too many speeding tickets. They also mentioned other ways a person can have their license suspended that I was not aware about. Can you write about that?
Answer: Your driver’s license may be suspended if you:
- Repeatedly violate traffic laws.
- Are convicted in court for a violation that contributed to a traffic crash resulting in death, personal injury, or serious property damage.
- Use or allow someone else to use your license for an illegal action. It is illegal to let anyone use your license or permit.
- Commit a traffic offense in another state that would be grounds for suspension in Minnesota.
- Are judged in court to be legally unfit to drive a motor vehicle.
- Fail to report a medical condition that would result in cancellation of driving privileges.
- Fail to stop for a school bus with its stop arm extended and its red lights flashing, within five years of a conviction for the same offense.
- Are found to possess a fake or altered license.
- Make a fraudulent application for a license or identification card.
- Take any part of the driver’s license examination for someone else or allow someone else to take the examination for you.
- Falsely identify yourself to a police officer.
- Fail to appear in court or pay a fine on a motor vehicle-related violation when required to do so.
- Are convicted of a misdemeanor for a violation of Minnesota traffic law.
- Fail to pay court-ordered child support.
- Use or allow someone else to use your license, permit, or ID card to buy tobacco products or alcohol for someone under 21 years of age.
- Are under 21 years of age, and the court determines that you drove a motor vehicle while consuming or after consuming alcohol.
- Pay a fee to the state or driver’s license agent with a bad check. (The suspension will be removed when the bad check and any related fees have been paid in full.)
- Are convicted for theft of gasoline.
After the period of suspension has ended, your driving privilege may be reinstated if all requirements are met. One requirement is payment of the reinstatement fee. If your license expired during the suspension period or if your name or address changed, you must apply for a new license and pay the appropriate fee.
You can avoid a ticket — and a crash — if you simply buckle up, drive at safe speeds, pay attention and always drive sober. Help us drive Minnesota Toward Zero Deaths.
If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Sgt. Troy Christianson – Minnesota State Patrol at 2900 48th Street NW, Rochester, Minn. 55901-5848. Or reach him at Troy.Christianson@state.mn.us.