Indiana License Suspensions: Violations That Automatically Suspend Your License
In Indiana, certain driving and non-driving violations can lead to the automatic suspension or revocation of your driver’s license. The information below provides a general overview of common scenarios that result in license suspension. It is crucial to understand that this information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For detailed legal guidance regarding your specific situation, it is always recommended to consult with SDHMR Law.
The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and the courts have the authority to suspend driving privileges based on various offenses and failures to comply with legal requirements.
Driving Violations Resulting in License Suspension
| Relevant Statute(s) | Driving Violation | Suspension Period |
|---|---|---|
| IC 9-30-4-6.1 | Failure to stop and give information at the scene of an accident that resulted in death, personal injury, or property damage in excess of two hundred dollars. | 6-month suspension. |
| IC 9-24-10-6 IC 9-24-10-7 |
Failing a driver’s fitness examination. | License revocation. * |
| IC 9-24-10-6 IC 9-24-10-7 |
Refusing to submit to a driver’s fitness examination. | License revocation. * |
| IC 9-21-8-52 | Reckless driving. | Up to 90 days suspension. * |
| IC 9-21-8-52(c) | Reckless driving results in damage to property. | Up to 1 year suspension. * |
| IC 9-21-8-52(d) | Reckless driving results in bodily injury. | 1-year suspension. |
| IC 9-30-16-2 | Operation of motor vehicle resulting in the death of another person. | 2-year suspension. |
| IC 9-21-8-52 IC 9-21-12-1 |
Passing of school bus when arm signal is out. | Up to 90 days suspension. * |
| IC 9-18.1-3-8 IC 13-17-5-3 IC 13-17-5-4 |
Failure to maintain, or the removal and dismantling of any air pollution control mechanism. | Suspension of vehicle registration. |
| IC 9-20-18-12 IC 9-20-4 IC 9-20-5 IC 9-20-11 IC 9-20-7-1 |
Violation of weight limitations not on interstate highways. | Suspension of license upon conviction. * |
| IC 9-20-4-1 IC 9-20-18-9 |
Violation of weight limitations on highways:
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| IC 9-21-12-8 IC 9-21-12-5 |
Failure for a bus to stop at a railroad. | 60-day license suspension. |
| IC 9-25-4-3 IC 9-25-4-1 IC 9-25-3-4 IC 9-25-6-3 IC 9-25-8-2 IC 9-25-9 |
Failure to show financial responsibility (through insurance or other means). | Indefinite suspension until proof is shown. |
| IC 25-6-2 IC 25-6-1 IC 9-25-6-19.2 |
False statement about financial responsibility. | Suspension of license for 90 days to 1 year. |
| IC 9-24-11-8 IC 9-24-11-7 IC 9-24-11-10 |
Operates a motor vehicle in violation of the restrictions placed upon it. (time restrictions, medical restrictions) | Suspension not more than 2 years. * |
| IC 9-28-2-8 | Failure to meet the conditions of a traffic citation of the jurisdiction in which the traffic offense occurred. | Suspension of license. * |
| IC 9-27-6-10 IC 9-27-6-10 IC 9-30-3-12 |
Failure to meet the driver’s education requirement. | Suspension until requirement is met. |
| IC 9-30-3-16 | Upon committing a traffic offense. | Up to 30 days suspension. * |
| IC 9-30-4-6.1 | Upon conviction of manslaughter or reckless homicide resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle. | 2–5-year suspension. |
| IC 9-30-4-6.1 | Committing perjury or making a false application registering a vehicle or license. | 6-month suspension. |
| IC 9-30-5-6 | Operating a vehicle in violation of any term of a probationary license. | Up to 1 year suspension. * |
| IC 9-30-5-8.5 | An individual under 21 getting a DUI (BAC of at least 0.02% but less than 0.08%). | Up to 1 year suspension. * |
| IC 9-30-6-7 IC 35-46-9-8 IC 35-46-9-13 |
Refusal to submit to chemical tests while driving. | Suspension of license for 1 year. |
| IC 9-30-6-8 IC 9-30-5 IC 35-46-9 IC 12-23-5-5 |
Operating a vehicle or motorboat while intoxicated. | Suspension of license for 30 days to 2 years. |
| IC 9-30-11-3 IC 9-30-11-4 IC 9-30-11-5 |
Failure to pay 3 judgments (e.g., parking tickets). | Suspension of vehicle registration. |
| IC 9-30-12-1 IC 9-30-12-2 |
Making a payment to the bureau with payments that are not honored. | Suspension of license. |
| IC 13-17-5-3 IC 13-17-5-4 IC 13-17-5-8 |
Removal or failure to maintain emission control device. | Suspension of vehicle registration. |
| IC 14-15-11-14 IC 14-15-11-15 IC 14-15-3 IC 35-46-9 IC 14-15-12 |
Unlawful operation of boats. | Up to a year suspension. * |
* If a suspension is marked with *, that means the suspension is not always required and can be up to the discretion of courts. If it is marked with a *, the maximum penalty is listed.
Non-Driving Violations Resulting in License Suspension
| Relevant Statute(s) | Non-Driving Violation | Suspension Period |
|---|---|---|
| IC-24-2-2.5 IC-35-43-1-2 |
Criminal mischief violations. | Up to 1 year suspension. |
| IC 31-16-12-7 IC 31-25-4-2 IC 9-24-2-3.1 IC 9-30-13-7 |
Failure to pay child support. | Suspended until further notice. |
| IC 9-30-13-0.5 IC 9-30-14-1 |
If a court deems it necessary to deprive the individual of the privilege of operating a motor vehicle of a convicted person, they can do so. | Up to the entire duration of the incarceration of the individual. |
| IC 9-30-13-8 IC 35-43-4-8 |
Fuel theft. | Suspension of license. |
| IC 14-22-39-2 IC 14-22-39 |
Failure to appear in court for certain violations. | Suspension until defendant appears in court and case has been disposed of. |
| IC 35-44.1-3-1 | Resisting law enforcement. | Suspension of driver’s license. |
| IC 35-47-2-5 IC 35-47-1-7 |
Individual is not a “proper person” as defined in IC 35-47-1-7 (related to firearm eligibility, which can impact license eligibility). | Suspension of driver’s license. |
| IC 9-25-6-4 IC 9-25-6-5 IC 9-25-6-6 IC 9-25-6-7 IC 9-25-6-9 IC 9-30-3-8 IC 34-28-5-6 |
Failure to satisfy court judgment for a violation within a set time frame. | Up to seven years suspension. |
Violations for Individuals Between the Ages of 15 to 18 with a Learner’s Permit or a Driver’s License
| Relevant Statute(s) | Violation | Suspension Period |
|---|---|---|
| IC 20-33-2-11 IC 9-24-2-1 IC 9-24-2-4 IC 31-37-19-4 |
Student is a habitual truant. | Suspension until the age of 18. |
| IC 20-33-2-14 IC 20-33-8-15 IC 9-24-2-1 IC 9-24-2-4 |
Second suspension from school for the school year. | Suspension of license. |
| IC 20-33-8-14 IC 20-33-8-15 IC 20-33-8-16 IC 9-24-2-1 IC 9-24-2-4 |
Student expelled from school. | Suspension of license. |
| IC 20-33-2-28.5 IC 9-24-2-1 IC 9-24-2-4 |
Student drops out of school without approval. | Suspension of license. |
| IC 9-24-2-2 IC 31-37-19-13 IC 31-37-19-17 |
Controlled substance violation. | Suspension for 6 months to 1 year. |
| IC 31-37-19-17 IC 9-24-2-2.5 IC 35-43-1-2 |
Criminal mischief violation. | Suspension for 1 year. |
| IC 9-24-18-12.2 IC 7.1-5-7-7 |
Minor consuming or transporting alcohol. | 60 days to one year suspension. |
| IC 7.1-5-7-7 IC 31-37-5-7 |
Minor committing an OWI. | License suspension for at least 60 days. |
| IC 31-37-19-5 IC 31-37-1 |
Child committing delinquent acts. | License suspension. |
**Disclaimer:** This list does not constitute legal advice. It is provided for informational purposes only. For detailed explanations of these violations and their implications, please consult with SDHMR Law or another qualified legal professional.