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How to Reinstate Your Suspended Drivers License in Utah
Drivers license suspensions in Utah may happen as a result of disobeying road rules and failing to legally operate motor vehicles. The UT Driver License Division issues suspended driving licenses to drivers who have committed either driving or non-driving offenses. In the event of suspended driving privileges, motorists need to fulfill a list of requirements in order to reinstate their credentials.
The process of reinstating drivers licenses in Utah may vary, depending on the type of offense committed. To find out more information about drivers license restoration process and the implied requirements, continue reading the sections below.
Reinstating a Utah Suspended License
A Utah drivers license reinstatement process must be completed in order to continue legally operating motor vehicles on public roads within the state. A suspended drivers license may occur as a result of various offenses and misdemeanors. For instance, motorists may get a driving license suspension for:
- Accumulating too many demerit points
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
- Refusing to submit to a chemical test
- Driving without car insurance
- Failing to appear in court and pay the traffic ticket
- Failing to pay child support
- Committing a texting violation
- Driving with a suspended drivers license
- Committing alcohol-restricted driver violation
Drivers who believe that may get suspended driving licenses in Utah are encouraged to order a copy of their UT driving records to check the status of their credentials.
How to Reinstate a Utah Suspended Drivers License
The Utah drivers license reinstatement process may vary depending on the type of offense drivers have committed. The requirements you need to reinstate suspended driving licenses will be determined by the UT DMV.
Part of those requirements may demand drivers to complete a defensive driving course, to provide proof of car insurance, to reapply for a UT driver’s license by retaking the DMV exams and to pay the applicable reinstatement fees. For more detailed information about the UT driving license reinstatement requirements, contact a local DMV office.
Suspension Periods in Utah
A Utah driving license suspension period may vary depending on the type of offense drivers have committed and the number of other violations written in their records. For instance, motorists who are older than 21 years of age and who have refused to submit to a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) test may get a suspension period of 18 months for a first offense or 36 months for a second offense.
Drivers younger than 21 years of age will get suspended drivers licenses for a period of two years or until their 21st birthday, depending which one comes first. Drivers license suspensions may be issued to motorists who are caught driving under the influence. The DUI offenders will get the following suspensions, depending on their age at the moment of the Per-Se arrest:
- Drivers older than 21 years of age – a suspension period of 120 days for a first offense or two years for a second offense.
- Drivers between 19 and 21 years of age – suspension period of six months.
- Drivers younger than 19 years of age – suspension period of two years.
Utah Point System
Suspended drivers licenses in Utah may be issued as a result of the accumulation of demerit points on motorists’ driving records. The UT Driver License Division has a set point system that consists of the number of points that are incurred per violation. Below is an outline of violations and applicable points:
- Reckless driving – 80 points.
- Failing to yield right-of-way – 60 points.
- Driving on the wrong side – 60 points.
- Improper passing or lookout – 50 points.
- DepklklkDisobeying a stop sign or a red light – 50 points.
- Speeding – from 35 to 75 points, depending on the speed.
- Other moving violations – 40 points.
A drivers license suspension may happen if drivers accumulate a certain number of demerit points on their records. Drivers older than 21 years of age who have accrued 200 or more demerit points within three years will be requested to appear at a court hearing. The hearing may result in given probation periods for the drivers or it may suspend their driving privileges.
The driving license suspension period for adult drivers may range between three months and one year, depending on their driving records. Drivers younger than 21 years of age will have to appear at a court hearing for accumulating 70 demerit points or more within three years. This hearing may result in a denied or suspended drivers license for a period from 30 days to one year.
Traffic School in Utah
Facing suspended driving licenses in Utah may motivate drivers to enroll in a state-approved traffic school. State traffic schools offer classes to drivers who want to remove demerit points from their UT driving records or to earn car insurance discounts. By completing a traffic course, drivers can also dismiss an approaching an emergency vehicle violation.T
he defensive driving classes are available either online or at one of 11 locations throughout the state. This course can be taken once every three years to reduce the number of demerit points. A Utah defensive driving course qualifies drivers over 55 years of age for an auto insurance reduction. Car insurance discounts are only granted at the discretion of auto insurance companies.
Types of Utah Drivers License Suspensions
Utah drivers license suspensions may happen as a result of committing a variety of driving and non-driving offenses. Motorists may get suspended driving licenses for violations such as the following:
- Accumulating too many demerit points.
- Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
- Refusing to submit to a chemical test.
- Driving without car insurance.
- Failing to appear in court and pay a traffic ticket.
- Failing to pay child support.
- Committing a texting violation or an alcohol-restricted driver violation.
- Driving with a suspended license.
Utah DUI Suspensions
Suspended drivers licenses in Utah may be issued by the Driver License Division to motorists who have committed DUI offenses. It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. According to the Utah Implied Consent Law, drivers are required to submit to a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) test if pulled over by a police officer.
Drivers may face a suspended or revoked driving license for refusing to submit to a BAC test. The drivers license suspension periods for refusal to take a BAC test vary depending on the age of the motorist.
Older Than 21
Drivers older than 21 years of age will get a driving license suspension period of 18 months for a first refusal to submit to a BAC test. A second or subsequent refusal will bring them suspended drivers licenses for a period of 36 months.
Younger Than 21
Drivers license suspensions may also be issued to motorists younger than 21 years of age who refuse to submit to a BAC test. The first refusal will bring them a two-year suspension period, while committing a second or subsequent offense will suspend their credentials for 36 months. In certain situations, suspended drivers licenses may not be reinstated until motorists turn 21 years of age, if that period is longer than the suspension period.
Car Insurance Suspensions
Suspended drivers licenses in Utah may be issued to motorists who fail to maintain or show proof of auto insurance when asked by a law enforcement officer. Therefore, drivers must purchase and maintain the minimum liability car insurance coverage in order to legally operate their vehicles. For that reason, drivers must pay $25,000 for bodily injury per person in an accident, $65,000 for total bodily injury per accident and $15,000 for property damage.
Drivers may avoid paying three different sums of money and pay $80,000 for total bodily injury and property damage. In addition to the minimum insurance requirements, drivers must obtain a no-fault insurance or Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. The PIP coverage requires payment of minimum of $3,000 per person.
Traffic Summons or Failure to Pay
Utah drivers license suspensions may occur as a result of failure to appear in court and pay a traffic ticket. When drivers receive traffic tickets, they must either plead guilty or not guilty. Motorists may pay their traffic citations online, by mail or in person at a local court, depending on their committed offenses. For more detailed instructions, read the traffic ticket you have received from your local court.
Utah Hardship Drivers License
Before reinstating suspended drivers licenses in Utah, certain situations may make you eligible to obtain a hardship license during your suspension period. A hardship (restricted) license allows motorists to drive to work or school. Drivers who want to apply for a hardship credential must complete the requirements set by the Utah DMV before applying for a limited license.
Applying for a Utah Hardship License
Drivers facing suspended drivers licenses in Utah must satisfy certain requirements in order to be eligible to apply for a hardship (limited) license. They must provide proof of their need for a hardship credential, a letter from the judge that most recently has convicted them and a written verification form from a doctor proving their ineligibility to drive.
In addition to these required documents for a hardship license, drivers will also have to pay the applicable reinstatement fees and license fees. The UT DMV may also require drivers to take certain exams, depending on their specific situation.
Fees to Reinstate a Utah Drivers License
When reinstating suspended drivers licenses in Utah, motorists must pay the applicable reinstatement fees to the state Driver License Division. The drivers license reinstatement process will require drivers to pay a fee of $30 for any type of offense or $65 for a DUI-related offense.
Motorists may also be required to pay an administrative fee for drivers license restorations after committing offenses as a result of alcohol or drug use. This administrative fee is $230 and must be paid in addition to the reinstatement fee.
Drivers License Reinstatement Forms
Note: DMV forms change regularly. The forms provided above are current based on the date of writing.
Sources
- DUI from Utah.gov