Return of license, when - limited driving privilege, when granted, ...
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 302.309
in effect302.309. Return of license, when — limited driving privilege, when granted, application, when denied — judicial review of denial by director of revenue — rulemaking. — 1. Whenever any license is suspended pursuant to sections 302.302 to 302.309 , the director of revenue shall return the license to the operator immediately upon the termination of the period of suspension and upon compliance with the requirements of chapter 303 .
2. Any operator whose license is revoked pursuant to these sections , upon the termination of the period of revocation, shall apply for a new license in the manner prescribed by law.
3. (1) All circuit courts, the director of revenue, or a commissioner operating under section 478.007 shall have jurisdiction to hear applications and make eligibility determinations granting limited driving privileges, except as provided under subdivision (8) of this subsection. Any application may be made in writing to the director of revenue and the person's reasons for requesting the limited driving privilege shall be made therein.
(2) When any court of record having jurisdiction or the director of revenue finds that an operator is required to operate a motor vehicle in connection with any of the following:
(a) A business, occupation, or employment;
(b) Seeking medical treatment for such operator;
(c) Attending school or other institution of higher education;
(d) Attending alcohol- or drug-treatment programs;
(e) Seeking the required services of a certified ignition interlock device provider; or
(f) Any other circumstance the court or director finds would create an undue hardship on the operator, the court or director may grant such limited driving privilege as the circumstances of the case justify if the court or director finds undue hardship would result to the individual, and while so operating a motor vehicle within the restrictions and limitations of the limited driving privilege the driver shall not be guilty of operating a motor vehicle without a valid license.
(3) An operator may make application to the proper court in the county in which such operator resides or in the county in which is located the operator's principal place of business or employment. Any application for a limited driving privilege made to a circuit court shall name the director as a party defendant and shall be served upon the director prior to the grant of any limited privilege, and shall be accompanied by a copy of the applicant's driving record as certified by the director. Any applicant for a limited driving privilege shall have on file with the department of revenue proof of financial responsibility as required by chapter 303 . Any application by a person who transports persons or property as classified in section 302.015 may be accompanied by proof of financial responsibility as required by chapter 303 , but if proof of financial responsibility does not accompany the application, or if the applicant does not have on file with the department of revenue proof of financial responsibility, the court or the director has discretion to grant the limited driving privilege to the person solely for the purpose of operating a vehicle whose owner has complied with chapter 303 for that vehicle, and the limited driving privilege must state such restriction. When operating such vehicle under such restriction the person shall carry proof that the owner has complied with chapter 303 for that vehicle.
(4) No limited driving privilege shall be issued to any person otherwise eligible under the provisions of subdivision (6) of this subsection if such person has a license denial under paragraph (a) or (b) of subdivision (8) of this subsection or on a license revocation resulting from a conviction under subdivision (9) of subsection 1 of section 302.302 , or a license revocation under subdivision (2) of subsection 2 of section 302.525 , or section 302.574 or 577.041 , until the applicant has filed proof with the department of revenue that any motor vehicle operated by the person is equipped with a functioning, certified ignition interlock device as a required condition of limited driving privilege. The ignition interlock device required for obtaining a limited driving privilege under paragraph (a) or (b) of subdivision (8) of this subsection shall have a photo identification technology feature, and a court may require a global positioning system feature for such device.
(5) The court order or the director's grant of the limited or restricted driving privilege shall indicate the termination date of the privilege, which shall be not later than the end of the period of suspension or revocation. The court order or the director's grant of the limited or restricted driving privilege shall also indicate whether a functioning, certified ignition interlock device is required as a condition of operating a motor vehicle with the limited driving privilege. A copy of any court order shall be sent by the clerk of the court to the director, and a copy shall be given to the driver which shall be carried by the driver whenever such driver operates a motor vehicle. The director of revenue upon granting a limited driving privilege shall give a copy of the limited driving privilege to the applicant. The applicant shall carry a copy of the limited driving privilege while operating a motor vehicle. A conviction which results in the assessment of points pursuant to section 302.302 , other than a violation of a municipal stop sign ordinance where no accident is involved, against a driver who is operating a vehicle pursuant to a limited driving privilege terminates the privilege, as of the date the points are assessed to the person's driving record. If the date of arrest is prior to the issuance of the limited driving privilege, the privilege shall not be terminated. Failure of the driver to maintain proof of financial responsibility, as required by chapter 303 , or to maintain proof of installation of a functioning, certified ignition interlock device, as applicable, shall terminate the privilege. The director shall notify by ordinary mail the driver whose privilege is so terminated.
(6) Except as provided in subdivision (8) of this subsection, no person is eligible to receive a limited driving privilege whose license at the time of application has been suspended or revoked for the following reasons:
(a) A conviction of any felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle was used and such conviction occurred within the five-year period prior to the date of application. However, any felony conviction for leaving the scene of an accident under section 577.060 shall not render the applicant ineligible for a limited driving privilege under this section;
(b) Ineligibility for a license because of the provisions of subdivision (1), (2), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), or (10) of subsection 1 of section 302.060 ; or
(c) Due to a suspension pursuant to subdivision (8) or (10) of subsection 1 of section 302.302 or subsection 2 of section 302.525 .
(7) No person who possesses a commercial driver's license shall receive a limited driving privilege issued for the purpose of operating a commercial motor vehicle if such person's driving privilege is suspended, revoked, cancelled, denied, or disqualified. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the issuance of a limited driving privilege for the purpose of operating a noncommercial motor vehicle provided that pursuant to the provisions of this section, the applicant is not otherwise ineligible for a limited driving privilege.
(8) (a) Provided that pursuant to the provisions of this section, the applicant is not otherwise ineligible for a limited driving privilege, a circuit court or the director may, in the manner prescribed in this subsection, allow a person who has had such person's license to operate a motor vehicle revoked where that person cannot obtain a new license for a period of ten years, as prescribed in subdivision (9) of subsection 1 of section 302.060 , to apply for a limited driving privilege pursuant to this subsection. Such person shall present evidence satisfactory to the court or the director that such person's habits and conduct show that the person no longer poses a threat to the public safety of this state. A circuit court shall grant a limited driving privilege to any individual who otherwise is eligible to receive a limited driving privilege, has filed proof of installation of a certified ignition interlock device, and has had no alcohol-related enforcement contacts since the alcohol-related enforcement contact that resulted in the person's license denial.
(b) Provided that pursuant to the provisions of this section, the applicant is not otherwise ineligible for a limited driving privilege or convicted of acting with criminal negligence while driving while intoxicated to cause the death of another person, a circuit court or the director may, in the manner prescribed in this subsection, allow a person who has had such person's license to operate a motor vehicle revoked where that person cannot obtain a new license for a period of five years because of two convictions of driving while intoxicated, as prescribed in subdivision (10) of subsection 1 of section 302.060 , to apply for a limited driving privilege pursuant to this subsection. Such person shall present evidence satisfactory to the court or the director that such person's habits and conduct show that the person no longer poses a threat to the public safety of this state. Any person who is denied a license permanently in this state because of an alcohol-related conviction subsequent to a restoration of such person's driving privileges pursuant to subdivision (9) of section 302.060 shall not be eligible for limited driving privilege pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision. A circuit court shall grant a limited driving privilege to any individual who otherwise is eligible to receive a limited driving privilege, has filed proof of installation of a certified ignition interlock device, and has had no alcohol-related enforcement contacts since the alcohol-related enforcement contact that resulted in the person's license denial.
(9) A DWI docket or court established under section 478.007 may grant a limited driving privilege to a participant in or graduate of the program who would otherwise be ineligible for such privilege under another provision of law.
4. Any person who has received notice of denial of a request of limited driving privilege by the director of revenue may make a request for a review of the director's determination in the circuit court of the county in which the person resides or the county in which is located the person's principal place of business or employment within thirty days of the date of mailing of the notice of denial. Such review shall be based upon the records of the department of revenue and other competent evidence and shall be limited to a review of whether the applicant was statutorily entitled to the limited driving privilege.
5. The director of revenue shall promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010 , that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028 . This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2001, shall be invalid and void.
(L. 1961 p. 487, A.L. 1965 p. 477, A.L. 1967 p. 410, A.L. 1977 S.B. 478, A.L. 1978 H.B. 1634, A.L. 1983 H.B. 713 Revision, A.L. 1984 S.B. 608 & 681, A.L. 1987 S.B. 230, A.L. 1989 1st Ex. Sess. H.B. 3, A.L. 1990 S.B. 567, A.L. 1991 S.B. 125 & 341, A.L. 1993 S.B. 167, A.L. 1996 H.B. 1169 & 1271 merged with S.B. 722, A.L. 1999 S.B. 19, A.L. 2001 H.B. 302 & 38, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1233, et al., A.L. 2008 S.B. 930 & 947, A.L. 2010 H.B. 1695, et al., A.L. 2012 H.B. 1402 and A.L. 2012 S.B. 480, A.L. 2013 S.B. 23, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491, A.L. 2015 S.B. 254) Effective 1-01-17 (1972) Provision that hardship driving privilege may be granted following the first conviction for operating an automobile while intoxicated but not following a second conviction is neither arbitrary nor unreasonable. Williams v. Schaffner (Mo.), 477 S.W.2d 55. (1984) A second conviction for driving while intoxicated must have occurred within a five-year period relative to the grant or denial of both a new application for a license and/or an application for limited driving privileges. Smith v. State (Mo.App.), 677 S.W.2d 920. (1988) Person convicted of driving while intoxicated twice within five-year period not eligible to receive hardship driving privilege. Hardwick v. Director of Revenue, 760 S.W.2d 615 (Mo.App.). (1993) A driver's license is not vested right, but merely privilege and granting of limited hardship privilege is not substantive in nature; therefore, where statute bars limited driving privileges in certain instances, it can be applied retrospectively. Taylor v. Director of Revenue, 861 S.W.2d 134 (Mo. App. E.D.). (1998) A felony conviction involving the use of a motor vehicle precludes eligibility for hardship driving privileges without time limit. Hagan v. Director of Revenue, 968 S.W.2d 704 (Mo.banc). (2014) Provision allowing DWI court graduates and participants to obtain limited driving privileges while denying same opportunity to non-participants does not violate equal protection because it is rationally related to legitimate state interest in protecting public from drunk drivers. Amick v. Director of Revenue, 428 S.W.3d 638 (Mo.banc).
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=302.309Fetched: 10/17/2026