All U.S. states, the District of Columbia and Canadian provinces allow suspension of driving privileges for at least some non-highway safety reasons.
Forty-three of those jurisdictions responded to a 2013 survey by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) gathering information on local laws. Every one of them, for example, allowed a license suspension for failure to pay child support. Three -- California, Florida and Saskatchewan -- suspend those convicted of soliciting a prostitute.
Suspensions related to DUI or multiple violations or to a lapse in coverage typically force drivers into high-risk auto insurance policies. Brief administrative suspensions probably won't, if the problem is addressed quickly and the driver isn't ticketed for driving on a suspended license during that period.
A suspended license makes insuring a car difficult, because insurance companies require a driving record to calculate car insurance rates. (See "Car insurance with a suspended license.") For most drivers, the path toward driver's license reinstatement includes an SR-22 filing from your insurance company.
Laws are specific to each state, but AAMVA has grouped them together in these buckets, followed by the states and/or provinces that allow suspensions for that reason.
- Abandoned Vehicle: NY
- Advocate Overthrow of Government: NY
- Altering, Defacing Signs/Signals: SC
- Assaulting a Traffic Officer: NY
- Assembling / Operating Amusement Park Ride While Intoxicated: TX
- Auto / Cargo Theft: CA, GA, MN
- Boating While Intoxicated: TX
- Bomb Threat / Volatile Chemical: MI, NY, TX
- Bounced / Bad Check: AR, CO, FL, LA, ME, MD, MN, NB, RI, UT, VT
- Buy/Sell Liquor without a License: AZ
- Child in Need of Services: NH
- Controlled Substances: AR, GA, IN, IA, MI, MN, MT, NY,OR, PA, TN,TX, UT, VA
- Department of Health Overpayment: TX
- Dispensing Gas to a Dirt Bike: MD
- Failure to Appear / Comply / Pay (non moving violations): AZ, AR, CT, FL, HI, ID, IA, LA, ME, MI, MT, NB, NH, NF, OR, SK, TX, UT, VA, WI, WV
- Failure to Complete Education Program: CT, SC, TX, VT
- Failure to Obtain Hack License: NY
- Failure to Pay Alimony: NE
- Failure to Pay Child Support: AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NB, NH, NM, NY, NF, ND, OH, ON, NT, NE, OR, PA, SK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, SC, VA, WA, WI, WY, WV
- Failure to Pay Parking Violation(s): IL, MI, MN, RI
- Failure to Pay Tax: LA, OR, SC, VT
- Failure to Pay Tolls: IL, ME
- Failure to Submit to Genetic Test : FL
- False Public Alarm: VT
- Felony :MT
- Fictitious Plate/Registration/Inspection: CT, TX
- Flying While Intoxicated: TX
- Fraud / Misuse of a Driver License: AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, LA, MI, MN, MT, NB, ND, OR, PA, RI, SK, SD, UT, WA, WI, WV
- Fuel Piracy / Theft : AR, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, IA,LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, UT, WA, WV
- Handicap Space / Placard Violation: AR, IL
- Immigration / Visa Expiration: MN, TX
- Identity Theft: CT
- Littering / from a Motor Vehicle: AR, OR
- Minor - Alcohol Possession / Consumption: AR, CA, CO, CT, GA, ID, IN, IA, MD, MI, MT, NH, NM, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI
- Minor - Controlled Substances: CA, IA, WA
- Minor – Using False ID to Purchase Alcohol: IN, MD, MI, NY, TN, TX, VT, VA
- Minor – Possession of a Firearm: AZ, CA, FL, VA, WA
- Minor – Tobacco Violation: OR, TX, VT
- Minor in a Bar: UT
- Open Container / Possession – Passenger: FL, IL, MI, MN, NM
- Outstanding US District Court Citation: MD
- Parental Withdrawal: CO, GA, IA, MN, ND, TX, VT, MO, MT, SC, UT
- Perjury: OH
- Prostitution / Solicitation / FTA John School: CA, FL, SK
- Providing False Info to Law Enforcement: MI
- Public Intoxication / Consumption: IA, TX
- Sell/Buy Alcohol to/for a Minor: MN, SD, TX, VT, VA, WY
- Sex Offender Violation: NH, TX
- Soliciting with HIV: OH
- Solid Waste Burning: VT
- Theft: FL
- Tow Truck Driver Graft: CA
- Truancy / Failure to Attend School: AZ, CA, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, LA, NM, OH, OR, PA, TX, VA, WI, WV
- Unattended Child in a Running Auto: WA
- Unpaid College / Student Loan: IA, MT
- Unruly Child / Juvenile Suspension: OH
- Use of MV to Distribute Tobacco: ON, QB
- Vandalism / Graffiti: CA, FL, TX
- Weapon / Threat in School: AR, IN, IA, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA
