Nationwide, nearly four in ten drivers' licenses suspensions are for reasons totally unrelated to roadway safety.

Failing to pay child support, failure to pay parking tickets, failure to obey a summons, and juvenile delinquency are some of the more common social engineering programs related to drivers' license suspension. An estimated 40 percent of these drivers lose their jobs because they can no longer get to work. There is evidence that the effect is particularly harsh for rural residents and, in urban areas, black and Hispanic young men.

Some states, including California, do allow motorists to obtain an occupational or restricted drivers' license in some circumstances.

In The Golden State, the points suspensions pass through the Negligent Operator Treatment System (NOTS) process. If you accumulate four points in 12 months, six points in 24 months or eight points in 36 months, the state will try and suspend your drivers' license.

An attorney practicing in Lamont and Shafter can present several effective defenses at these hearings. One is to show that the motorist is in trouble because of one or two isolated incidents, as opposed to a pattern of violations. The hearing officer also may consider a driver's remorse, and that doesn't mean "I'm sorry I got caught." Hardship and other mitigating factors may also play a role.

The hearing officer, who is not a judge and may not even be a lawyer, will probably issue one of three rulings:

The officer may also decide to stay the proceedings for a couple of weeks, to either consider the matter further or resume the hearing later.