October 03, 2016
Lost Driving Privilege? How the Law Affects You
Losing your driving privilege can be devastating for anyone. Sometimes, people don’t realize how much they rely on their car until it becomes illegal for them to use it. Recognizing that the loss of the driving privilege can make it difficult or impossible to continue performing the necessary tasks of daily life, the state of Missouri has made it possible for people to obtain a limited driving privilege.
Limited Driving Privilege
In Missouri, your driver’s license can be revoked or suspended for any number of moving violations or other offenses. It is generally possible to acquire a driver’s license at a future date, but this may not be for several months or years. That’s why many people seek a limited driving privilege for the interim between the suspension or revocation of their license and the time when they can apply for a license again.
Approved Situations
A person who is granted a limited driving privilege is only permitted to drive in certain situations. For instance, this person can legally drive themselves to work, to seek medical attention or to attend alcohol- and drug-treatment programs. Students are allowed to drive themselves to school and drivers who are required to have an ignition interlock device may drive to seek out an installer. Other situations may be acceptable depending upon the approval of the court.
Not Everyone Qualifies
It’s necessary for drivers to apply for a limited driving privilege in Missouri. While many of these applications are approved, some are denied because the driver is ineligible. Typically, the driver submits an application to the Department of Revenue for processing, which takes five business days. Drivers with a five- or 10-year denial on their record are required to petition the circuit court. This may necessitate hiring an attorney to ensure better odds of success.