75 Pa. C.S.A. § 1553 authorizes the Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to issue an occupational limited license to a driver whose operating privileges have been suspended as long as the issuance of such a license is not otherwise prohibited by the section. The list of prohibited or otherwise ineligible drivers is long and your Lehigh County criminal lawyer should be ready to advise you properly. If the suspension was caused by violations committed while the driver was operating a commercial motor vehicle, the driver may not be issued an occupational limited license for the purpose of operating a commercial motor vehicle. Normally, the Department of Transportation will issue and occupational limited license when the individual is disqualified from obtaining one under the commercial motor vehicle safety act of 1986.
The department issuing an occupational limited license to drivers whose operating privileges have been recalled, canceled, or revoked. A person whose operating privilege has been suspended for a conviction under 75 Pa. C.S.A. §1543 may not petition for an occupational limited license unless the department's records show that the suspension for a conviction under Section 1543 occurred only as a result of: a) the suspension for failure to respond to a citation imposed under the authority of 75 PA CSA § 1533; b) a suspension for failure to undergo a special examination imposed under the authority of Section 1538(a); c)a suspension for failure to attend a departmental hearing imposed under the authority of section 1538 (b); or d) a suspension that occurred as a result of a violation of Section 1772(b).
The petition for an occupational limited license may not be filed until three months have been served for the suspension under Section 1543 (a).