Driver's license suspensions

Miss traffic court? Have a suspended license? A new law may help you.

It is important to attend your court date because when you miss traffic court, the Court may suspend your driver’s license. A new law can help prevent your license from being suspended. If it was already suspended, the new law can help you get your license back, but you need to take action as soon as possible.

Not sure if your license is suspended or why your license is suspended? Find more information here.

What to do if you miss traffic court:

  • Call the court clerk as soon as possible. If you contact the Court before your license is suspended, the Court may be able to stop your license from being suspended.
  • Tell the clerk: “I missed my traffic court date. Please set a new hearing date and tell the Department of Driver Services not to suspend my driver’s license.”
  • You can also ask how you can resolve your ticket without a hearing date.
  • If you cannot afford to pay your ticket, tell the court clerk or the judge that you cannot pay and ask if there are any options for you.
  • You may find your court clerk’s contact information on your ticket or online.

What to do if your license has been suspended for missing court:

  • Reach out to the Court as soon as possible. Contact the court clerk to reschedule a hearing date for your traffic citation or appear for a hearing.
  • After you reschedule a court date or appear in court for a hearing, the court must release the hold on your license. This release is mandatory for most citations.*
  • You may find your court clerk’s contact information on your ticket or online.
  • If you cannot afford a license reinstatement fee ($90-$100), ask the Court to waive it and explain why you can’t pay and/or why you missed court. The Court has the power to decide whether or not to waive this fee
  • Please note that an automatic release after you reengage the court is limited to one time per case. If you miss a court date in your case again, you will not be guaranteed license reinstatement. However, you may still ask the judge to reinstate your license at any point.
  • Courts are no longer allowed to make you pay an FTA fee prior to rescheduling you a court date. If you reach out to the clerk and the clerk says that you must pay an FTA fee to get a new court date, please contact GJP.

*Offenses under O.C.G.A. § 40-5-54, serious traffic offenses listed in O.C.G.A. § 40-6-390 through § 40-6-397, and offenses where a license can be suspended for a first offense are not guaranteed automatic license reinstatement.

What to do after the court reinstates your license:

  • You will need to go to the Department of Driver Services (DDS) to get your license back.
  • Even if your DDS reinstatement fees aren’t waived, you can complete a DDS “pauper’s affidavit” form to see if you qualify for DDS to waive your reinstatement fees.
  • Confirm that your license is now “Valid.” You can confirm the status of your license at: https://dds.drives.ga.gov/_/. Log in or create an online DDS account to see any steps required for any outstanding suspensions.

For more information about what to do if you miss traffic court and have a suspended license, please contact:

Emily Spears, Attorney and Equal Justice Works Fellow

Phone: 404-827-0027 ext. 202

Email: ESpears@GJP.org

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Georgia Justice Project