Drunk Driving License Suspension

In every state, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or more. However, each state has its own specific drunk driving laws and penalties. Often these penalties include a driver’s license suspension. The length of a driver’s license suspension really depends on your state’s specific laws and the circumstances surrounding your drunk driving case.

For example, if you are convicted of drunk driving in Pennsylvania and this is if your first offense, you can lose your license for one year. In Kentucky, under these same circumstances, the driver’s license suspension is 30 days. Although states may have different laws regarding driver’s license suspension, they all agree on one thing: if you are convicted of drunk driving or you refuse to take a chemical test, your license will be suspended.

Court-Ordered License Suspension

Because drivers’ licenses are issued by each state’s department of motor vehicles, the courts often do not carry out the license suspension. The court will ensure that the department of motor vehicles issues the license suspension. If you are found to violate your license suspension, the court will take over again and may add additional penalties.

And while it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .08% or more, this percentage is significantly lowered for commercial drivers or those under the legal drinking age of 21. Commercial drivers may not only have their license suspended for a longer time, they may have it revoked entirely. Due to Zero Tolerance Laws, underage drivers will face serious penalties and a DUI conviction if they drive with any amount of alcohol in their system. Although there are some things like post-conviction relief in some states fro DUI, it is not always an option, so deciding not to drink and drive is imperative.