Suspended Driver license/ report on medical app.

C

chrisdahut1

Well-Known Member
A little background: About a month ago, I had my FL driver license suspended for failing to have Florida insurance on a car supposedly registered in Florida. The car had in fact been titled, registered and insured in Kentucky since September, so needless to say I was a little bit stunned to get this suspension notice in the mail. I wasn't happy, and got it straightened out at the DMV a few days later, and my license was immediately re-instated.

Last week I went to get my medical, and on the section that asks about "conviction and/or Administrative Action History", I initially ticked "no", as I always thought that this only applies to DUI/drug related suspensions and revocations. I was surprised to notice when I read it a little more closely that they required ALL suspensions and revocations, regardless of the cause, to be reported. So I checked "yes", and put in a brief explanation. When I discussed it with the AME, he confirmed that "yes" was indeed the right response, but told me I also had to notify the FAA in writing of the suspension. I was a little doubtful about that, and after some FAR research later that day I noticed that the FAR 61 reg dealing with such notification is specific to suspensions ONLY involving DUI/drug related offenses (unlike the question on the medical application).

So should I write to the FAA and let them know about this suspension? I can't find any regulation that states I should. I don't have anything to hide, but needless to say it's a negative issue, and I would like to keep it from the eyes of the Fed's unless required to report it.
 
The reporting requirement is for ANY administative action. Better to report than to fail to do so and get into administrative trouble later. What they are looking for is a pattern of problems, not just a single event.
 
While the suspension does have to be reported on the medical application, it does not have to be reported to the FAA Civil Aviation Security Division. The only motor vechicle action that has to be reported to the FAA CASD are those that invoved drugs or alcohol. Take a look at far 61.15.
 
Never had my regular drivers license suspended, but I had a CDL permit suspended because I failed to go back to the doctor and have it properly endorsed "Must wear corrective lenses." She forgot to write this on the permit but I got busy doing other things and getting into a new job and decided I didn't want to pursue my CDL. So a few days ago, I got a letter from the DMV stating my CDL permit is suspended. Didn't think much about it until I read this thread. Does this have to be reported?
 
I would personally report it on the 8500-8 with an explanation. Remmeber, they look at the driving records and if it was entered by the state as suspended it is better to have reproted than to look like you are trying to cover it up.

Again, what the FAA is lookng for is a pattern of non-compliance / anti-social behaviors. A single incident is not significant. They want to know if there is a pilot who repeatedly thumbs his nose at the rules and does not play well in the sand-box.
 
I was informed that my license was suspendedby during a traffic stop. This was a total shock to me. What happened was that I hired an attorney to handle a ticket. He got the points removed but didn't inform me that I still had to pay the fine. Long story short I went to court and got it all taken care of, and the judge actually changed the charge from driving with a suspended license to driving with an invalid license. So, that needs to be reported with that explaination? My medical is tomorrow. Thanks.
 
You are correct. The AME should then put a comment in box 60 to also explain what happened ans state that there have been no other events.
 
My Flight Surgeon said:
I would personally report it on the 8500-8 with an explanation. Remmeber, they look at the driving records and if it was entered by the state as suspended it is better to have reproted than to look like you are trying to cover it up.

Again, what the FAA is lookng for is a pattern of non-compliance / anti-social behaviors. A single incident is not significant. They want to know if there is a pilot who repeatedly thumbs his nose at the rules and does not play well in the sand-box.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help.
 
chrisdahut1 said:
... So I checked "yes", and put in a brief explanation. When I discussed it with the AME, he confirmed that "yes" was indeed the right response, but told me I also had to notify the FAA in writing of the suspension. I was a little doubtful about that, and after some FAR research later that day I noticed that the FAR 61 reg dealing with such notification is specific to suspensions ONLY involving DUI/drug related offenses (unlike the question on the medical application).

So should I write to the FAA and let them know about this suspension? I can't find any regulation that states I should. I don't have anything to hide, but needless to say it's a negative issue, and I would like to keep it from the eyes of the Fed's unless required to report it.
Click to expand...

This thread has some very good to know info. I'll just add that you've already reported it to the FAA when you put it on your medical. As far as I know, and according to all the info in this thread, no separate report is necessary, but whether or not you want the FAA to know about it has already been decided by you for you.

As an anecdote, and a humorous (or scary, depending on what point of view you're using) story, I had a student a while back in Rhode Island. He came up to me one day and said he had received a letter from the FAA stating he had to surrender his Student Pilot Cert. Upon hearing this, my response was go talk to a lawyer... this could be serious, depending on what was happening. He then told me the story behind it.

He had failed to report a suspended driver's license on his medical. I told him again to go talk to a lawyer. He continued (he was a "special" stud.) by saying he had been in a hit and run. I told him to go talk to a lawyer, I didn't want to hear any more. So, he continued...the cops couldn't see what was in the car, so he ran. I said enough...I didn't want to hear any more, so he continued and finished with "trust me, it wasn't drugs or a body, but the cops couldn't find out."

I walked away after that.
 
For the DUI though, you are required to report it within 60 days by FAR. This applies to both the arrest and any court action so there are 2 reports that they merge into one.
 
Do they ask you if you ever had a suspension or just recently. I had my license suspended 10 years ago, do I need to report that. (It wasn't drug or alcohol related)
 
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