Missouri's "Abuse and Lose" law requires Missouri courts to suspend or revoke the driving privileges of any person who is determined to have committed any of the following offenses if they were under the age of 21 years old at the time the offense was committed:
- Any alcohol-related traffic offense;
- Any offense involving the possession or use of alcohol, committed while operating a motor vehicle;
- Any offense involving the possession or use of a controlled substance (ex. marijuana);
- Any offense involving the alteration, modification or misrepresentation of a license to operate a motor vehicle (driver license); and
- Any offense involving the possession or use of alcohol (MIP) for a second time if both offenses were committed when the minor was under 18 years of age.
A minor is "determined to have committed the offense" listed above upon any of the following: a Plea of Guilty; a Finding of Guilt; a Finding of Fact that the Offense was Committed (in juvenile court); or a Conviction.
The period of time the minor's driver license is suspended or revoked under Missouri's "Abuse and Lose" law depends on whether the offense was a first offense (90 day suspension), or a second or subsequent offense (1 year revocation).
Reinstatement requires completion of the Substance Abuse Traffic Offender Program (SATOP) or comparable program, and payment of a reinstatement fee. A Limited Driving Privilege (LDP) may be available for work, alcohol programs, medical treatment, school, etc. Only one LDP can be granted in a five year period.
If maintaining a clean criminal record is important to you, or your son or daughter, please contact us today at (573) 355-9270 to schedule your free consultation and case review.
