3. Causes of License Revocation and Suspension
Edit on GitHubThere are many different types of suspensions and revocations that are imposed for different reasons and last for different lengths of time. A Wisconsin Department of Transportation 2018 report detailing revocations and suspensions showed that 59% of all driver’s license suspensions or revocations were due to failure to pay forfeitures1. Use the chart below to explore the most common reasons for driver’s license suspensions and revocations.
▷ Failure to Pay Forfeiture Suspensions
Failure to Pay Forfeiture (FPF) suspensions are one-year suspensions for failure to pay a traffic ticket. This is the most common suspension. It is also the most frequent suspension among our clinic clients. Sometimes FPF suspensions are accompanied by other types of suspensions.
▷ Driving Record Suspensions
Another common suspension is the Driving Record (DR) or “points,” suspension This occurs when a driver accrues 12 or more demerit points (received due to traffic tickets) in any twelve-month period. The length of the suspension depends upon the total number of points the driver has and the type of license they hold.
▷ Operating While Suspended Suspensions
An Operating While Suspended (OWS) suspension is a discretionary, court-ordered suspension based on an operating while suspended conviction. It can last up to six months.
▷ Operating While Suspended and Operating After Revocation Revocations
Similarly, there are revocations for Operating While Suspended (OWS) and Operating After Revocation (OAR). These are discretionary, court-ordered revocations upon a fourth or subsequent OWS or OAR ticket within a five-year period. This revocation may last up to six months and will require SR-22, that is Safety Responsibility, insurance for three years from the end of the revocation.
▷ Failure to Complete Course Suspension
A Failure to Complete Course (FCC) suspension occurs when an individual fails to complete the Right of Way Course that is required after certain violations. This suspension can be for up to five years.
▷ Failure to Pay Support Suspension
A Failure to Pay Support (FPS) suspension occurs when a person fails to pay child support. These suspensions can last up to two years when court-imposed and up to five years when imposed by the Department of Workforce Development.
▷ Safety Responsibility Suspension
A Safety Responsibility (SR) suspensionresults from an uninsured accident, with damages greater than $1,000, where a driver fails to provide proof of insurance, to post a bond, or to prove a lack of fault for the accident. The length may be listed as indefinite, but it is actually one year.is required for three years from the end of the suspension.
▷ Damage Judgment Suspension
A Damage Judgment (DJN) suspension is a suspension due to a court judgment for damages greater than $500 from an uninsured accident. The suspension begins on the date of the court judgment. SR-22 insurance is required for 3 years from the end of the suspension.
▷ Habitual Traffic Offender Revocation
An Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO) revocation is a revocation for four major violations or 12 minor violations in a five-year period. The length of the revocation is five years, but an occupational license can be granted through a court order after two years of the revocation. SR-22 insurance is required for three years from the end of the revocation.
▷ Operating While Intoxicated Revocation
An Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) revocation occurs for different lengths of time based upon the number of previous OWI tickets the individual has received.
▷ Blood Alcohol Content Suspension
A Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) suspension is an administrative suspension imposed by the DMV for a period of six months when a chemical test result is at least .08 after an OWI arrest.