Last Updated on June 20, 2025 by Beltz Law Group
Suspended Driver License Assistance
In Texas, holding a driver’s license is considered a privilege, not a right. This means the state, through the Department of Public Safety (DPS), can suspend or revoke your driving privileges for a variety of reasons, ranging from serious traffic offenses to non-driving related legal issues. Understanding these reasons is crucial for every driver to avoid unexpected complications and maintain their ability to drive legally.
If your license has been suspended or you’re at risk of suspension, navigating the legal process can be complex. The attorneys at The Beltz Law Group are here to help. Contact us today at 214-321-4105 for a confidential consultation.
Key Reasons Why A Driver’s License Can Be Suspended in Texas
Texas law outlines numerous scenarios that can lead to the suspension or revocation of your driver’s license. These can generally be categorized as follows:
1. Traffic Offense-Related Suspensions
- Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) / Driving Under the Influence (DUI) by a Minor:
- Criminal Conviction: A conviction for DWI (driving while intoxicated) automatically triggers a license suspension period, which varies based on prior offenses.
- Administrative License Revocation (ALR): Even if you’re not convicted of DWI, refusing to provide a breath or blood specimen, or failing a test (having a BAC of 0.08% or higher, or any detectable amount for minors), can lead to an administrative suspension of your license by DPS. This suspension is separate from any criminal case.
- Driving While License Invalid (DWLI) Convictions: If you are caught driving with an already suspended, invalid, or ineligible license and are convicted of Driving While License Invalid (DWLI), this new conviction will almost certainly result in an additional suspension period.
- Habitual Violator / Accumulation of Moving Violations: DPS can suspend your license if you accumulate too many moving violation convictions within specific timeframes. For instance, four or more convictions in 12 consecutive months, or seven or more convictions in 24 months, can classify you as a “habitual violator” and lead to suspension.
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Lawyer For Suspended License
Serious Traffic Offenses: Convictions for offenses that demonstrate a disregard for public safety or the law often lead to automatic suspensions. These include:
- Reckless Driving
- Racing on a Highway
- Evading Arrest or Detention with a Motor Vehicle
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident (Hit and Run), especially if involving injury or death.
- Failure to Stop and Render Aid (if applicable to an accident).
- Underage Alcohol or Drug Offenses: Minors convicted of alcohol-related offenses (like Minor in Possession, Public Intoxication by a Minor) or certain drug offenses can face mandatory license suspensions.
- Violating License Restrictions: If your license has specific restrictions (e.g., “with corrective lenses,” “daytime only”), and you are convicted of violating these restrictions multiple times.
2. Financial Responsibility-Related Suspensions
- Failure to Maintain Liability Insurance: Texas law requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance. If you are involved in an accident or pulled over and cannot provide proof of financial responsibility (insurance), your license can be suspended.
- Failure to Pay Judgments from Accidents: If you are at fault in an accident, uninsured, and fail to pay for the damages you caused, your license can be suspended until the damages are paid or a payment plan is established.
- Failure to Maintain SR-22 Insurance: Certain offenses (like DWI, DWLI, or uninsured accidents) may require you to carry SR-22 “high-risk” insurance. If this coverage lapses or is canceled, DPS will suspend your license.
3. Non-Driving Related Offenses or Administrative Issues
- Drug-Related Convictions: Even if the offense did not involve a motor vehicle, a conviction for certain drug offenses (e.g., possession of controlled substances) can result in an automatic driver’s license suspension.
- Delinquent Child Support: If you are found to be delinquent on child support payments, the Office of the Attorney General can issue a directive to DPS to suspend your driver’s license until your account is brought into good standing or a payment plan is arranged.
- Failure to Complete Court-Ordered Programs: If a court mandates that you complete specific educational programs (e.g., alcohol education, drug offender programs, DWI intervention) or community service, and you fail to do so, your license can be suspended until compliance is confirmed.
- Outstanding Warrants / OmniBase Holds: While not a “suspension” in itself, an unresolved traffic ticket (due to a failure to appear in court or failure to pay a fine) can lead to an OmniBase “hold” on your license. This prevents you from renewing your license, and driving with such a hold, especially if your physical license has expired, can lead to DWLI charges. If you are arrested on a warrant for these issues, it can also lead to immediate complications.
- Fraudulent Activity: Using a fraudulent governmental record (like a fake license plate or inspection sticker) or permitting the unlawful or fraudulent use of your own license can lead to suspension or revocation.
- Medical Reasons: In cases where DPS determines a driver has a medical condition (physical or mental) that makes it unsafe for them to operate a motor vehicle, the license may be suspended or revoked.
- Out-of-State Offenses: Committing an offense in another state or Canadian province that, if committed in Texas, would be grounds for suspension, can also lead to a Texas license suspension under interstate compacts.
Driver License Suspension
Consequences of Driving with a Suspended License
Driving with a suspended license in Texas is a criminal offense of Driving While License Invalid (DWLI). The penalties are severe and can include:
- Fines: Ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
- Jail Time: Possible incarceration, especially for repeat offenders or if driving without insurance in an accident causing injury.
- Further Suspensions: A DWLI conviction will almost certainly lead to an additional, often longer, period of license suspension.
- Vehicle Impoundment: Your vehicle may be towed and impounded.
- Increased Insurance Rates: Your auto insurance premiums will likely skyrocket, and obtaining coverage may become difficult.
How The Beltz Law Group Can Help
Driver License Suspension Lawyer
If your driver’s license has been suspended or you’ve received a notice of suspension, it’s crucial to act quickly and strategically. An experienced attorney can:
- Determine the Specific Reason(s) for Suspension: Many drivers have multiple underlying issues.
- Navigate the Reinstatement Process: Guide you through all the necessary steps, including contacting courts, paying fees, and completing required programs.
- Challenge Suspensions: In some cases, suspensions can be challenged or a hearing requested.
- Resolve Underlying Warrants/Tickets: Address the root causes of holds to prevent future suspensions.
- Seek an Occupational Driver’s License (ODL): If you face a mandatory suspension period, an ODL may allow you to drive legally for work, school, and essential household duties.
- Protect Your Record: Work to prevent additional convictions that could worsen your driving record and lead to further penalties.
Don’t face a license suspension alone. The legal process can be confusing, but our team is here to help you understand your options and work towards reinstating your driving privileges.
Contact The Beltz Law Group today at 214-321-4105 for assistance with your suspended Texas driver’s license.
