1. (1) Introduction. The purpose of driver license suspension is to obtain compliance with a support order, subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, order to appear for genetic testing, or similar order.
2. (2) Definition. For purposes of this rule “delinquency” means the total amount of support that has come due and is unpaid pursuant to the payment schedule set forth in the support order.

3. (3) Suspension Criteria.

   1. (a) The Department is authorized pursuant to Section 61.13016, F.S., to initiate a proceeding for the suspension of an obligor’s driver license and the registration of all motor vehicles solely owned by the obligor when:

      1. The obligor is 15 days delinquent in making a support payment, or

      2. The obligor fails to comply with a subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or

      similar order relating to paternity or support proceedings.

   2. (b) The Department shall initiate a proceeding to suspend the driver license and the registration of all motor vehicles solely owned by the obligor for non-payment of support in an obligor’s case if the criteria in subparagraph (3)(a)1., and the following criteria are met, unless any of the factors listed in paragraph (3)(c), are present:

      1. (I) For a weekly support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 10 days or longer,
      2. (II) For a bi-weekly support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 17 days or longer,
      3. (III) For a semi-monthly support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 18 days or longer,
      4. (IV) For a monthly support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 34 days or longer,
      5. (V) For a quarterly support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 95 days or longer,
      6. (VI) For a semi-annual support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 186 days or longer,
      7. (VII) For an annual support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 368 days or longer,
      8. (VIII) For a one-time support obligation, the Department has not received and posted a payment in the past 34 days or longer,

      1. The Department has a valid mailing or residential address for the obligor,

      2. The delinquency in the case is:

      a. Equal to or greater than $400, or

      b. Greater than $100 and less than $400, and:

   3. (c) The Department may not initiate a proceeding to suspend an obligor’s driver license or motor vehicle registration for non-payment of support if any of the following factors are present:

      1. The obligor receives temporary cash assistance,

      2. The obligor receives Supplemental Security Income benefits,

      3. The obligor is complying with a written agreement the obligor entered with the Department,

      4. The obligor receives reemployment assistance (formerly known as unemployment compensation),

      5. The Department has initiated an income deduction notice to an employer or other payor of income during the employer’s or payor’s most recent pay frequency (e.g., weekly, monthly), if known, or during the support order obligation frequency (e.g., weekly, monthly),

      6. The obligor is paying support pursuant to an income deduction notice,

      7. The Department has placed an override on driver license suspension actions in the case, for example, when a court has prohibited driver license suspension in the case,

      8. The Department has any of the following compliance actions pending in the case:

      a. A past-due notice sent to the obligor,

      b. An appointment letter sent to the obligor,

      c. An action to report the obligor’s overdue support balance to consumer reporting agencies,

      d. An action to suspend the obligor’s business, professional, occupational, or recreational license or certification,

      e. A legal action against the obligor for contempt of court or to establish a repayment on past-due support,

      f. An action to place a lien on the obligor’s motor vehicle(s) or vessel(s),

      g. A referral of the obligor’s case to another state’s Title IV-D agency to take compliance actions against the obligor,

      9. The obligor is disabled and incapable of self-support,

      10. The obligor receives benefits under the federal Social Security Disability Insurance program, or

      11. The obligor is making payments in accordance with a confirmed bankruptcy plan under Chapter 11, 12, or 13 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code,

4. (4) Notice to Obligor of Intent to Suspend Driver License; Notice to Suspend Motor Vehicle Registration.

   1. (a) In accordance with Section 61.13016(1), F.S., the Department sends to the obligor by regular mail a Notice of Intent to Suspend Driver License and Motor Vehicle Registration(s), Form CS-EF55, incorporated herein by reference, effective 11/23, (HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15989"http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15989), The notice is mailed to the obligor’s address of record with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
   2. (b) In addition to the notice required by paragraph (4)(a), if the Department has information that using another address is more likely to result in actual notice to the obligor, the Department shall mail the notice to the obligor at that address.
   3. (c) Service of the notice is complete upon mailing.

5. (5) Termination of Driver License Suspension Process; Termination of Motor Vehicle Registration Suspension Process. After the Department has provided notice to the obligor of its intent to suspend the obligor’s driver license and motor vehicle registration(s), but before the Department has notified the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to suspend, the Department shall terminate a pending suspension action if the obligor satisfies any of the conditions in Section 61.13016(3), F.S. The Department shall also terminate a pending suspension action as follows:

   1. (a) If the suspension action in a case was initiated due to non-payment of support, the Department will terminate the action when:

      1. The Department closes the case,

      2. An income deduction payment is received:

      a. During the past seven days for a weekly obligation,

      b. During the past 14 days for a bi-weekly obligation,

      c. During the past 15 days for a semi-monthly obligation,

      d. During the past 31 days for a monthly obligation,

      e. During the past 92 days for a quarterly obligation,

      f. During the past 183 days for a semi-annual obligation,

      g. During the past 365 days for an annual obligation,

   2. (b) If the suspension action in a case was initiated due to a failure to comply with a subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, order to appear for genetic testing, or similar order, the Department shall terminate the action when:

      1. The Department closes the case, or

      2. A court orders the Department to terminate the action.

6. (6) Written Agreements for Payment of Past-Due Support.

   1. (a) Rule 12E-1.027, F.A.C., governs the requirements and procedures for entering into a written agreement with the obligor for payment of past-due support.
   2. (b) If the obligor defaults on a payment required by the written agreement, the Department shall, without further notice to the obligor, notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to suspend the obligor’s license and registration(s), as provided by the terms of the written agreement, unless one of the circumstances listed in paragraph (5)(a), exists.

7. (7) Reinstatement of the Driver License; Reinstatement of Motor Vehicle Registration.

   1. (a) The Department shall notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to reinstate an obligor’s driver license and motor vehicle registration(s) in a case as follows:

      1. If the suspension action in a case is initiated due to non-payment of support, the Department shall notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to reinstate the obligor’s driver license and motor vehicle registration(s) when:

      a. The Department closes the case,

      b. An income deduction payment is received,

      c. The obligor pays the delinquency in full,

      d. The obligor enters into a written agreement with the Department,

      e. The obligor demonstrates that he or she receives reemployment assistance,

      f. The obligor demonstrates that he or she is disabled and incapable of self-support,

      g. The obligor receives Supplemental Security Income benefits,

      h. The obligor receives benefits under the federal Social Security Disability Insurance program,

      i. The obligor receives temporary cash assistance,

      j. The obligor is making payments in accordance with a confirmed bankruptcy plan under Chapter 11, 12, or 13 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code,

      k. A court orders the reinstatement of the license and motor vehicle registration, or

      l. The Department requests the suspension in error.

      2. If the suspension action in a case was initiated due to a failure to comply with a subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, order to appear for genetic testing, or similar order, the Department shall notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to reinstate the obligor’s driver license and motor vehicle registration(s) when:

      a. The obligor complies with the subpoena or order,

      b. A court orders the reinstatement of the license and motor vehicle registration,

      c. The Department requests the suspension in error, or

      d. The Department closes the case.

   2. (b) The Department will notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to reinstate a driver license or motor vehicle registration(s) when, based on supporting documentation:

      1. The obligor is unable to comply with a written agreement or pay the total delinquency;

      2. The obligor is participating in a job training class;

      3. The obligor shows evidence of employment;

      4. The child(ren) are no longer in the obligee’s household;

      5. Child support payments are being made;

      6. Earnings statements show deductions for child support;

      7. The obligor has an existing support order the Department did not know about; or

      8. The obligor documents a hardship claim.

8. (8) Procedure for Reinstatement. When the Department notifies the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to reinstate the driver license and motor vehicle registration, the Department shall also notify the obligor that the Department is no longer pursuing suspension action, and the obligor’s driver license and motor vehicle registration(s) is eligible for reinstatement upon the obligor paying applicable fees owed to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The Department uses Form CS-EF57, Driver License/Vehicle Registration Reinstatement Notice, to notify obligors their driver license and motor vehicle registration are eligible for reinstatement. Form CS-EF57, Driver License/Vehicle Registration Reinstatement Notice, (Effective 09/19/2017) ( HYPERLINK "http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08621" http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08621), is hereby incorporated by reference in this rule.

Rulemaking Authority 409.2557(3)(i) FS. Law Implemented 61.13016, 322.058 FS. History–New 7-20-94, Formerly 10C-25.020, Amended 3-6-02, 9-19-17, 3-25-20, 11-12-20, 11-21-21, 6-9-22, 9-14-23, 11-16-23.