Suspended License

Carelessness is the predominant cause of having your license revoked or suspended in Pennsylvania. A few seconds of indiscretion behind the wheel can inflict a major ouch upon your wallet and limit your mobility, forcing you to rely on taxis, buses, rides from sympathetic friends, and your own two feet.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) does allow you the option to appeal through your county's Court of Common Pleas, but there are no assurances that this will work.

Possible Reasons for Suspension

• Accumulating for the second time six or more points on your license.

• Failure to stop for a school bus with flashing red lights.

• Driving without car insurance.

• Driving under the influence (DUI) could lead to immediate suspension, depending on your blood alcohol content (BAC) and whether or not you're a repeat offender.

• Failure to attend a PennDOT hearing after being ticketed for driving 31 mph or more over the speed limit.

Suspensions usually last a fixed amount of time and can then be lifted by filing an application for reinstatement and paying a fee.

Possible Reasons for Revocation

• Fleeing a police officer.

• Vehicular homicide.

• Fleeing an accident you were involved in.

• Getting caught driving with a suspended license.

• Racing other cars on a highway.

As opposed to suspensions, revocations are not "lifted" after a length of time has expired. Instead, you will need to apply for a new license from scratch after the waiting period ends, in addition to paying a reinstatement fee.

Notification

You will be notified by mail that your license has been either suspended or revoked. You then must surrender your license to PennDOT by either mailing it or dropping it off along with a completed Acknowledgment of Suspension/Revocation/Disqualification/Cancellation. Failure to do so will prompt a visit by the police. Drop off or mail your license and the acknowledgment form to:

• PennDOT

• Bureau of Driver Licensing

• P.O. Box 68693

• Harrisburg, PA 17106-8693

Reinstatement

Once your suspension or revocation has expired, you may resume driving again provided you show proof of insurance and have paid all fines and reinstatement fees. Points on your record, regardless of how many or how few you had prior to your sentencing, will stand at five.

Probationary License

Drivers who have had their licenses suspended or revoked for five years or more can, under most circumstances, apply for a probationary license that restores noncommercial driving privileges between 6 a.m and 7 p.m. Motorcycles, mopeds, and commercial licenses are not covered under this special allowance.

To apply, you need to complete a Probationary License Petition and pay an $85.25 application fee. Should your application be denied, $25 of that fee is nonrefundable. Send the application and fee to:

• PennDOT

• Bureau of Driver Licensing

• OLL/PL Unit

• P.O. Box 68689

• Harrisburg, PA 17106-8689

Occupational Limited License

If your Pennsylvania driver's license has been suspended, you may apply for an Occupational Limited License (OLL), which will allow you limited driving privileges. If your license has been revoked, disqualified, canceled, or recalled, you are not eligible. Certain types of suspensions also disqualify you for the OLL; these are listed on the application for the OLL.

To apply, you'll need to complete Form DL-15 and submit it to the OLL/PL Unit address above along with a $50 restoration fee and proof of insurance. If your license has expired or will expire during the suspension period, you'll also need to submit the renewal fee at this time. The Bureau of Driver Licensing will notify you within 20 days whether you qualify.