The Missouri Department of Revenue has the mandate to suspend, revoke and even permanently take away a person’s driving license due to various reasons. A person who has been convicted of certain offenses can have their license suspended or revoked for varying periods of time. Typically, the period of license suspension according to Missouri laws ranges from 30 to 90 days but the period may be longer depending on the severity of the offense committed.

A suspension of a driver’s license means the driver cannot legally drive for a certain period of time, but he or she can get the license back later. A revocation means the license is cancelled, and one will need to go through a specific process to obtain another license. Revocation of an offender’s driving license generally lasts for more than one year. The Missouri Department of Revenue determines the periods of license suspension or revocation. In certain circumstances, the department may decline to reinstate a suspended or revoked license for much longer periods of time.

Some of the reasons a driver’s license would be suspended or revoked in Missouri include, but are not limited to: accumulating points for driving offenses, a conviction of the offense of driving under influence or driving without insurance, a conviction of felonies involving motor vehicles, and an administrative order following a probable cause hearing by the Missouri Department of Revenue.

Suspension of driver’s license

The common driving offenses that will result in driver’s license suspension include excessive moving violations, DUI, driving while suspended, driving without a license, driving without insurance, and physical or psychological disqualification. The Missouri Department of Revenue will revoke driving privileges of a driver who accumulates 8 points in a span of 18 months on their driving record. Besides, a driver’s license can be suspended if the person fails to pay traffic tickets, or appear in court when issued with a traffic ticket. Failure to pay child support could also result in the suspension of one’s driver’s license.

Revocation of driver’s license

Under the Missouri Department of Revenue point system, they revoke a driver’s license if the holder accumulates 12 demerit points or more within 12 months, 18 points or more within 24 months, or 24 points or more in a span of 36 months.  Other common reasons for driver’s license revocation in Missouri include habitual driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, careless and imprudent driving that results in injury to another party, making a false statement on a driver’s license or use of fictitious license plates, leaving the scene of an accident, and convictions of serious traffic offenses.

When can a driver’s license be permanently revoked?

In Missouri, driving privileges can be permanently suspended if the driver is a habitual DUI offender who has been convicted of DUI for more than three times. However, a driver whose license has been revoked permanently can get a “hardship permit” that allows him or her to drive to certain places but after installation of an ignition interlock device in the car. A driver’s license could also be permanently taken away due to medical conditions that disqualify a person’s ability to drive.

Serious criminal driving offenses such as driving while discharging a firearm, vehicular assault, involuntary manslaughter using motor vehicle, driving under current suspension or revocation, and aggravated vehicular homicide could lead to permanent revocation of a driver’s license.

Missouri legal statutes provide that driving on a suspended or revoked license could result in misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the circumstances of the case.  If a person’s driving license has been suspended or revoked, or denied, he or she might be eligible for a Limited Driving Privilege which allows him or her to drive to specific places when their license is otherwise not valid. However, a person might still not be eligible for an LDP if they are cited for certain serious offenses.