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How to Reinstate Your Suspended Drivers License in Mississippi
Drivers license suspensions in Mississippi are issued to drivers who have failed to adhere to state road rules and have committed driving and non-driving-related offenses. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS) may suspend or revoke your driving privileges due to various offenses, such as DUI convictions, reckless driving, failure to appear in court, refusal of a BAC test and other traffic violations.
In order to reinstate suspended driving licenses, you will need to fulfill certain requirements. The drivers license reinstatement procedure may differ depending on the type of traffic violation you have committed. For more information about reinstating driving licenses in MS continue reading the sections below.
Reinstating a Mississippi Suspended License
Motorists must complete a Mississippi drivers license reinstatement procedure in order to continue legally driving motor vehicles on public roads in the state. A suspended driving license may be obtained due to various violations: Driving Under the Influence (DUI), refusal of a BAC test, failure to appear in court, reckless driving, and other more serious traffic offenses. Note that to check whether you have committed offenses that led to an MS driving license suspension, you can order a copy of your MS driving record.
How to Reinstate a Mississippi Suspended Drivers License
When reinstating suspended drivers licenses in Mississippi, motorists must satisfy certain requirements that will restore their driving privileges. The MS DPS will determine the drivers license suspension period and reinstatement requirements, depending on the severity of the offense committed.
The Mississippi driving license reinstatement procedure may require drivers to complete an alcohol safety education program, to satisfy court requirements and to pay certain fees. Motorists can reinstate driving licenses by completing a process consisting of the following four steps:
- You must clear your MS driving record.
- You must pay the fines at the court in the county where the ticket was issued.
- You must pay the applicable reinstatement fees.
- The MS DPS must receive a clearance confirmation by the court.
Once the four steps are completed, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety will finalize your MS drivers license reinstatement process by mailing a clearance letter to your address.
Suspension Periods in Mississippi
Before reinstating drivers licenses in Mississippi, drivers are required to complete a specific suspension period. The duration of your MS driving license suspension may vary depending on the type of offense you have committed or on the number of times you repeat the same violation.
For instance, a driving under the influence (DUI) offense may bring you a suspended drivers license for a period from 90 days to five years, depending on the number of consecutive times you have committed such offense. For a detailed description about drivers license suspension periods, contact the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
Mississippi Point System
Suspended drivers licenses are issued by a state DMV to drivers who accumulate certain number of demerit points on their driving records. However, the Mississippi Department of Public Safety does not have an established point system.
Instead, drivers may get driving license suspensions as a result of failure to pay their traffic tickets. Motorists can check whether they have received suspended drivers licenses by ordering copies of their MS driving records.
Traffic School in Mississippi
Drivers may avoid a Mississippi drivers license suspension by attending a state-approved traffic school. Successful completion of defensive driving courses may help you dismiss traffic tickets, only when ordered by a court. The court will check your MS driving record and will determine whether you are eligible to attend driving classes, as well as which course you may or may not take.
If the court decides not to dismiss your traffic ticket, then you will get it added to your driving record. In addition, drivers can enroll in traffic schools for the purpose of lowering their auto insurance premiums.
Types of Mississippi Drivers License Suspensions
Drivers may receive suspended driving licenses in Mississippi depending on the severity of violation committed. A drivers license suspension may be issued for violations, such as driving under the influence, refusal of a BAC test, failure to appear in court, reckless driving and other more serious traffic offenses.
If you find yourself in a situation where you suspect an MS suspended drivers license has been handed down to you, order a copy of your driving record to verify the current status of your driving credentials.
Mississippi DUI Suspensions
Motorists may get suspended drivers licenses due to DUI offenses. The Mississippi Department of Public Safety imposes strict penalties for DUI offenders. Drivers will face an MS driving license suspension for failing or refusing a chemical test. The suspension periods may vary depending on the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level and on the number of previous DUI offenses.
A first DUI violation will get you a drivers license suspension period of 90 days and will require you to attend an Alcohol Safety Education Program. Subsequent offenses may bring you a suspended drivers license for a longer period of up to five years.
Drivers Older Than 21
Mississippi drivers license suspensions may be issued to drivers older than 21 years of age who have submitted to a chemical test. The blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for adult drivers is set at 0.08 percent. Violators will receive a suspended drivers license in Mississippi if found driving motor vehicles with a higher BAC level than allowed.
Drivers Younger Than 21
Minor drivers may also get drivers license suspensions in Mississippi if they submit to a chemical test and show a BAC level above the limit. Drivers younger than 21 years of age must pay attention to their BAC level which cannot rise above 0.02 percent.
Car Insurance Suspensions
A one-year drivers license suspension in Mississippi will be issued to motorists who fail to provide proof of car insurance when stopped by a law enforcement agent. Therefore, drivers are required to maintain a minimum liability insurance coverage, which covers $25,000 for bodily injury to one person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.
Apart from the suspended driving license, drivers will be required to pay a penalty of $1,000 for failure to keep auto insurance cards in their vehicles. Your driving privileges will remain suspended until you provide proof of insurance.
Traffic Summons or Failure to Pay
A drivers license suspension in Mississippi may be issued to drivers who fail to pay their traffic tickets. In such a case, the MS Department of Public Safety will suspend your driving privileges and will make you pay a late fee. For that reason, make sure to pay your traffic ticket on time either online, by mail or in person.
Mississippi Hardship Drivers License
During an MS drivers license suspension period, motorists may request a hardship license for the purpose of operating motor vehicle for work, school or medical reasons. Only after proving the hardship of the individual who faces a suspended driving license may such a restricted license be issued. As early as 30 days after the effective date of the drivers license suspension, motorists may apply for a hardship license.
First offenders can only apply for hardship, while second, third or subsequent offenders cannot obtain restricted licenses while their driving privileges are suspended. Drivers who refused to submit to a chemical test will not be eligible for a hardship license. Contact the MS DPS for more information about your eligibility and application process for a hardship license.
Drivers License Reinstatement Fees in Mississippi
Drivers can reinstate suspended drivers licenses either online or in person at a local MS DPS office. As part of the process, they must pay certain reinstatement fees, which do not include payments for other citations. Drivers who choose to make an online payment will be required to provide their license number, full name, date of birth and last four digits of their Social Security Number.
The exact amount of money may vary depending on the type of offense you have committed. When paying the required drivers license reinstatement fees, drivers may pay with a credit or debit cards, such as Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
Mississippi License Reinstatement Forms
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Sources
- Pay Reinstatement Fees from ms.gov