Texas Occupational Drivers License (ODL)
March 1, 2023
In Texas, an occupational driver's license (ODL) is a type of restricted driver's license that can be issued to individuals who have had their regular driver's license suspended or revoked, usually for reasons such as unpaid traffic fines, failure to maintain auto insurance, or a criminal conviction. An ODL allows the individual to continue to drive for certain specified reasons, such as going to work, school, or medical appointments.
An occupational license can be obtained by filing a petition in the court, the petition must show good cause and the specific places, times, and purposes for which the individual needs to drive. The court will consider factors such as the individual's employment, family responsibilities, and medical needs.
The ODL issued usually comes with restrictions, like: a set of days, times, or specific routes that the individual is allowed to drive, and/or requirement to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in their vehicle. Additionally, the ODL is valid only within the state of Texas and it's also important to note that while driving with an ODL, the individual is still considered to be driving on a suspended license, which could result in harsher penalties if they are stopped by the police and caught driving outside of the restricted days, times, or routes.
In summary, Occupational driver license (ODL) is a restricted driver's license that can be issued to individuals who have had their regular driver's license suspended or revoked. It allows individuals to drive for specific reasons like going to work, school, or medical appointments and comes with restrictions like specific days, times, or routes and sometimes requirement of installing IID. It's only valid within Texas and driving with an ODL is still considered to be driving on a suspended license.