License Suspension — Occupational License


When individuals lose their privilege to drive as a result of a suspension, revocation, or denial, in some circumstances they may be able to obtain a license with certain restrictions as to time and place of driving. This is known as an Occupational License (OL), and can be granted for occupational, educational or essential household purposes. Scott Markowitz can inform and advise you whether this form of license is available for your particular situation, and the steps that can be taken to obtain such a license.

 

This type of license is not available for medical suspensions or suspensions for non-payment of child support. Also an occupational license may not be available for the operation of a commercial vehicle but may apply to the operation of the individual’s personal vehicle.

Waiting Periods

An occupational license becomes effective when the Judge signs the court order unless one of the following situations applies:

  • If the individual’s driver license was previously suspended as a result of an alcohol- or drug-related offense then there is a 90-day waiting period.

  • If the individual’s driver license was in suspension as a result of an intoxication-related conviction then there is a 180-day waiting period

  • If there are at least two administrative license revocations on the individual’s driver record then a mandatory one-year waiting period applies.

How to Request an Occupational License

Applications for an occupational license must be made to the Justice of the Peace, county or district court where the individual lives or to the court of original jurisdiction where the offense occurred.

If the Justice of the Peace, county or district court determines the individual is eligible to apply for an occupational license, then a court order will be issued. The court order is not the occupational license. A court order is only the order which authorizes the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to issue the occupational license.

Issuance of an Occupational License

The court order and all required items must be submitted to DPS before an occupational license will be issued. The court order may be used as a driver license for 30 days from the date of the court order, but the individual must send DPS some additional information and pay a modest issuance fee.