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Thirty-Seven Ways to Lose an Oregon Driver License
The good news is that there aren´t as many ways (37) for an Oregonian to lose a driver license as to lose a lover (50). The bad news is that it´s a lot easier to get a new lover than a new driver license. Moreover, for a state employee who´s required to drive as a part of job duties, a driver license suspension or revocation can be a real career stopper.
Contrary to popular opinion, Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants (DUII) isn´t the only reason why people have their driver license suspended. They can lose it for just about any offense involving a motor vehicle. Some of these are just common sense. For example, people can have their license permanently revoked if they´re convicted of intentionally using a car to kill someone. Murder, manslaughter, or criminally negligent homicide involving a motor vehicle could result in an eight-year suspension. On a more mundane level, making a false statement on a motor vehicle registration or driver license application form is also grounds for suspension. So is overlooking paying or answering a summons for a traffic citation.
Not all suspensions result from lawbreaking. Not surprisingly, there are provisions to suspend driving privileges for persons who have serious physical or mental disabilities.
Some Novel Ways to Lose Your License
Getting a little behind on child support? After three months, you may find yourself taking public transit to work. Certain drug offenses that also don´t involve motor vehicles entail a six-month suspension, and there´s no provision for a hardship permit.
If an Oregonian goes out of state, or even to Canada, and commits an offense that would merit a suspension or revocation back home, guess what? Yep, as soon as the DMV hears about it, their Oregon driver license could be history. Even out of state or Canadian residents are not beyond the long arm of the Oregon DMV. If they commit a "suspendable" offense, to coin a phrase, they could lose their driving privileges, in this state anyway, even if they retain their out-of-state license.
Commercial Driver License Suspensions
Many state employees are required to have a commercial driver license (CDL). There are additional offenses that can cause a CDL suspension. An on-duty CDL operator suspected of consuming or possessing alcohol might get a 24-hour out-of-service order. Driving before the order expires earns a suspension of up to a year for a first offense.
Hardship permits are tricky for CDL holders. State drivers whose personal licenses are suspended, may get both personal and CDL hardship permits to drive on their state jobs. Both their agency and Risk Management must agree to provide liability coverage. However, if their CDL driver licenses are suspended, they cannot get CDL hardship permits.
Can It Happen To Me?
There´s not nearly enough room here to describe all the reasons for driver license suspensions and revocations, but you can go to ORS 809 and scroll down to 809.410 for full details. This section also details the administrative review procedures.
Clearly, most offenses that strip a motorist of a driver license are pretty extreme. However, if your livelihood depends upon your driver license, especially your CDL, it´s best to be very aware of the law. Stay on its right side!
In order to drive on state business, employees must have a valid driver’s license. It does not matter why a license is suspended.
Winter 00, Vol 14, No 2
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