Click here to fight your Pennsylvania traffic ticket
Not only is a suspended license inconvenient, but it can cost you a lot of money in the form of fines and increased insurance premiums.
Therefore, we put together this article to help you understand why your license might be suspended in Pennsylvania, the associated penalties and fees, and how you can get your driving privileges reinstated.
Reasons for a suspended license in Pennsylvania
The state of Pennsylvania could suspend your driver’s license for multiple reasons. The following are some of the most common ones:
- A conviction of using a vehicle in the commission of a felony.
- Committing traffic violations and/or offenses that cause another person to get injured or die.
- Counterfeiting vehicle documents and plates and/or committing related types of fraud and forgeries.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Failing or refusing to take an alcohol test in a manner that isn’t covered by the state’s consent laws.
- Reckless driving convictions.
- Street racing convictions.
- Vehicular homicide convictions.
One may also get their license suspended when they commit other minor offenses or violations that cause them to have too many points.
How many points will suspend your license in Pennsylvania?
Once you accumulate 6 points, your license becomes suspended. The points could add up after you are convicted of multiple small violations or, alternatively, found guilty of committing a major offense (such as the ones we outlined above).
Keep in mind that driving with a suspended license may cause you to accumulate additional fines and punishments.
Penalties for Driving with a Suspended License in Pennsylvania
Those who get on the road while their Pennsylvania driver’s license is suspended will face the following penalties:
- A $200 fine
- An extension of the license suspension for an additional one or two years
It is important to note that this only applies to first-time offenses. Pennsylvanian drivers that continue to drive with a suspended license, even after receiving an initial conviction for doing so, have to pay a $1,000 fine. They might also be sentenced to up to 6 months in jail.
Above all, you should remember that harsher punishments apply if your license got suspended for a drug or alcohol-related offense.
DUI-Related Suspensions
In addition to a suspended license, here are the fines and penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the Keystone State:
- First Offense: $500 in fines and between 60 and 90 days in jail.
- Second Offense: $1,000 in fines and a minimum of 90 days in jail.
- Third and Subsequent Offenses: $2,500 in fines and a minimum of 6 months in jail.
In short, because of the hefty fines and harsh punishments that are associated with driving with a suspended license, you may want to wait until the suspension is over prior to operating your car again.
How to Reinstate Your License
After your license suspension is over, you need to apply to have it reinstated before getting behind the wheel.
The easiest way for restoring your driving privileges is to do so online through the website of the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (DOT). Using this service requires you to pay a fee that’s between $70 and $90.
Usually, the DOT will send you a letter in the mail 30 days before your suspension period is concluded.
How to Find Out If Your License is Suspended in Pennsylvania
There are four ways to determine if the state of Pennsylvania revoked or suspended your driving privileges:
- By Mail: Just as when your suspension period is nearly over, the Pennsylvania DOT will also send you a letter after your license initially gets suspended.
- Via Phone: As long as you have your Pennsylvania driver’s license number ready, you may inquire about the status of your license by phone. The DOT’s hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and you can reach them at (800) 932-4600 from within the state or at (717) 412-5300 when you call them from another state.
- Via Email: On the website of the Department of Driver and Vehicle Service (DVS), you can find out if your license is suspended by filling out their contact form. You will need to provide your name, address, birth date, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and other relevant details.
- In Person: Simply put, you can make an inquiry by visiting the DVS office in your local area.
Once you find out whether and why your license is suspended, you might be able to get it reinstated by challenging your ticket or violation in court.
Hire a Traffic Attorney Through WinIt
If you find out that you had a license suspension, you may want to work with an experienced traffic attorney on getting it dismissed. Otherwise, you will end up paying hefty fines and inflated insurance premiums.
If you already have points on your license, a suspended one could lead to a loss of income and great inconveniences that increase how much you spend on transportation.
An app like WinIt can help you restore your license.
Already, WinIt enabled users to save more than $50 million on driving tickets and citations. If you have a suspended license in Pennsylvania, we can certainly help you, too!
Here is how the process works:
- Submit: Firstly, take a picture of your ticket. Don’t have one? No problem. Just use your license plate number and our app will locate the ticket for you!
- Review: Next, upload your evidence and supporting documents on the app, and our experts will review your case.
- Dispute: At this point, you can sit back and relax. WinIt partners with world-class traffic attorneys who will start fighting your license suspension for you while giving you updates through every step of the way.
- Save: Not only do you enjoy top-level legal services at a particularly low rate, but we don’t even charge you, to begin with, unless your license suspension is successfully fought off.
Instead of stressing out about going to court and paying fines, you can sit back and focus on what’s important in your life while a world-class attorney handles your case and fights your license suspension in court.
All you need to do is create a WinIt account and upload your ticket or citation. We will handle the rest for you.
