Driver Guide

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There is one exception to this rule: Minors with a BAC of .02% or more do 
not have to file proof of insurance on a first offense.
More information about insurance is included in Chapter 13 of this Guide.
Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test of Your Blood Alcohol  
Content (BAC)
If a police officer stops you and you refuse to take a chemical test to determine 
your BAC, your driver license will be taken away for one year.  Your driver 
license may be reinstated if you submit the requirements listed below. 
Reinstatement Requirements for Alcohol-Related Offenses
Your license will be reinstated if you:
•  Pay a $45 fee;
•   Submit a form showing you completed a Substance Abuse Traffic 
Offender Program (SATOP) or comparable program;
•  Provide proof of insurance for two years (SR-22 filing); and
•  Have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed on any vehicle you  
 
  operate for at least six months from date of reinstatement if you have  
  more than one alcohol-related enforcement contact.
Ignition Interlock
An ignition interlock device (IID) is a mechanical unit that is connected to 
the vehicle’s ignition, horn, and headlights and measures the concentration 
of alcohol in a person’s breath.  The IID requires vehicle operators to 
provide a breath sample before starting the vehicle and periodically during 
the operation of the vehicle.  
If you have more than one alcohol-related contact showing on your driver 
record, you must have an IID installed on any vehicle you operate before 
your driving privilege can be reinstated.  The IID must be maintained for a 
minimum of six months from your reinstatement date without any violations 
the last three months.  You must pay for having the device installed and for 
having it serviced every month.  If you fail to maintain the IID your driving 
privilege will be re-suspended.  You will be required to have the device 
serviced/installed, send proof to the Driver License Bureau, and pay a $20 
reinstatement fee before having your driving privilege reinstated.  
In addition to driver licensing requirements, a court may impose other 
requirements such as:  IID use for the first DWI conviction; or use of a 
device for longer than six months.  
If you receive a ticket for failing to have an IID installed as required by 
law and you are convicted in court, your driving privilege will be revoked 
for one-year.  A second offense requires your driving privilege to be taken 
away for five years.  
To locate a list of approved ignition interlock devices and installers, visit 
http://www.modot.org/safety/ImpairedDriving.htm or contact the 
Missouri Department of Transportation at 800-801-3588.

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Driving is a privilege, not a right.  You can lose your driving privilege if you 
disobey the traffic laws.  When you are convicted of a traffic violation, while 
your vehicle was in motion, the department receives notice and adds points 
to your driving record.  This isn’t like a football or basketball game — you 
don’t want these points.  You can lose your driving privilege when you 
accumulate too many points.
The number of points you receive depends on the conviction.  For example, 
you may receive 2 or 3 points if you are convicted of speeding (depending 
on if the court was municipal, county, or state level).  By contrast, you may 
receive 12 points and the revocation of your driving privilege if you are 
convicted of leaving the scene of a traffic crash.
The following are examples of some state law violations and the point 
values associated with them:
 
Violation 
Point Value
 Speeding ..................................................................    3  points
 
Careless & Imprudent Driving ..................................    4  points
 
Knowingly Allowing an Unlicensed Driver 
 
      to Operate a Vehicle ...........................................    4  points
 
A Felony Involving a Motor Vehicle ..........................  12  points
 
Obtaining a Driver License by 
 
   Misrepresentation................................................  12  points
 
Operating a Vehicle with a Suspended 
 
      or Revoked Driver License .................................  12  points
RACKING UP POINTS:  THE CONSEQUENCES
If you accumulate a total of 4 points in 12 months, the department will send 
you a point accumulation advisory. 
If you accumulate a total of 8 or more points in 18 months, your driving 
privilege will be suspended.  Below are the consequences for accumulating 
8 points in 18 months:
•  1st suspension — 30 days 
•  2nd suspension — 60 days 
•  3rd (or subsequent) suspension — 90 days
Your driving privilege will be revoked for one year if you accumulate:
•  12 or more points in 12 months
•  18 or more points in 24 months
•  24 or more points in 36 months 
Depending on whether your suspension or revocation was related to 
alcohol, there are different reinstatement requirements. 
For a non-alcohol related point suspension or revocation, you will need to:
•  Submit proof of insurance (SR-22) and
•  Pay a $20 reinstatement fee.
CHAPTER 11 — THE POINT SYSTEM AND 
HOW IT AFFECTS YOU

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For an alcohol-related point suspension or revocation, you will need to 
submit the reinstatement requirements on page 80. 
Details about submitting proof of insurance (SR-22) can be found in
Chapter 13, Mandatory Insurance.
HOW POINTS COME OFF YOUR DRIVING RECORD
When your driving privilege is reinstated, the department reduces your total 
points to 4.  Every year you drive without getting new points on your record, 
the points will be reduced. 
•  After 1 year — Remaining points will be reduced by one-third
•  After 2 years — Remaining points will be reduced by one-half
•  After 3 years — Points reduced to zero
Although your points may be reduced to zero, certain convictions must 
remain listed permanently on your driving record.
OTHER CONSEQUENCES
Driving While Your License is Suspended or Revoked
If you drive while your license is suspended, your driving privilege may be 
revoked for one year after you are convicted.  If you continue to drive while 
your license is revoked, you may be convicted of a felony and have your 
license revoked again for one year.
Failure to Appear in Court for Traffic Violations (FACT)
When you fail to appear in court for a traffic violation, the court will notify 
you within 10 days of your failure to comply.  The court will give you 30 
days to pay the fines before the court notifies the Driver License Bureau.  
If you do not comply within 30 days, the court will notify the Driver 
License Bureau of your failure to comply, and your driving privilege will be 
suspended immediately.
If this happens to you, your driving privilege will be suspended until the 
Bureau receives:
•  Proof that the ticket is paid and
•  A $20 reinstatement fee.
If your license is suspended for FACT, you may get your driving privilege 
reinstated in one of three ways.
1.   Take the reinstatement requirements to a license office.  The information 
will be faxed to the Driver License Bureau in Jefferson City for review.  
A reinstatement letter will be prepared and faxed to the license office 
to be given to you.  If your driver license was previously surrendered, a 
temporary driving receipt will also be faxed.  Your driver license will be 
mailed to you from the Driver License Bureau in Jefferson City.
2.   Mail the reinstatement requirements to the Driver License Bureau, P.O. 
Box 3950, Jefferson City, Missouri 65105-3950.
3.   Bring the reinstatement requirements to the Driver License Bureau in the 
Harry S Truman State Office Building at 301 West High Street, Jefferson 
City, Missouri, in Room 470. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
Monday through Friday (except holidays).

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