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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>77576</law_id><section_number>46.2-400</section_number><catch_line>Suspension of license of person not competent to drive; restoration of license; duty of clerk of the court</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>46.2-412</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Titling, Registration and Licensure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="3">Licensure of Drivers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="12">Suspension and Revocation of Licenses, Generally; Additional Penalties</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>, on receipt of notice from a court, shall <span class="dictionary">suspend</span> the license of any person who has been legally adjudged to be incapacitated in accordance with Article 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/64.2-2000/">64.2-2000</a> et seq.) of Chapter 20 of Title 64.2. No <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license shall be issued to any applicant who has previously been adjudged incapacitated and not competent to drive unless, at the time of such application, (i) the applicant has been adjudged restored to capacity by judicial <span class="dictionary">decree</span> or has a <span class="dictionary">court order</span> restoring or retaining the <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to drive and (ii) the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> is satisfied that the applicant is competent to drive a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> with safety to persons and property pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Examination of licensee believed unable to drive safely; suspension or restriction of license; license application to include questions as to abilities of applicant; false answers; examination of applicant; physician's, advanced practice registered nurse's, or physician assistant's statement" href="/46.2-322/">46.2-322</a> or <a class="law" title="Examination of applicants; waiver of Department's examination under certain circumstances; behind-the-wheel and knowledge examinations" href="/46.2-325/">46.2-325</a>. The clerk of the court in which the adjudication is made shall send a certified copy or abstract of such adjudication to the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>. <a id="paragraph-278302" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-400/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall not <span class="dictionary">suspend</span> the license or prior <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to drive of any person legally adjudged to be incapacitated in accordance with Article 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/64.2-2000/">64.2-2000</a> et seq.) of Chapter 20 of Title 64.2, where the <span class="dictionary">court order</span> specifically permits such person to retain his <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license or the <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to drive or to apply for such license. In such case, the clerk of the court in which the adjudication is made shall not send a copy of the order to the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span>. However, a court may order any person adjudicated legally incapacitated to submit to an examination pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Examination of licensee believed unable to drive safely; suspension or restriction of license; license application to include questions as to abilities of applicant; false answers; examination of applicant; physician's, advanced practice registered nurse's, or physician assistant's statement" href="/46.2-322/">46.2-322</a> or <a class="law" title="Examination of applicants; waiver of Department's examination under certain circumstances; behind-the-wheel and knowledge examinations" href="/46.2-325/">46.2-325</a>. In such case, the clerk of the court shall forward a copy of the order requiring an examination to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. Upon completion of the examination, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> shall take whatever action may be appropriate and may (i) <span class="dictionary">suspend</span> the license or <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to drive a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> in the Commonwealth, (ii) permit the examinee to retain his license or <span class="dictionary">privilege</span> to drive a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> in the Commonwealth, or (iii) <span class="dictionary">issue</span> a license subject to the restrictions authorized by &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Special restrictions on particular licensees" href="/46.2-329/">46.2-329</a>. <a id="paragraph-278303" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-400/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Upon receipt of notice that a person has been discharged from a facility operated or licensed by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and is, in the <span class="dictionary">opinion</span> of the authorities of the facility, not competent because of mental illness, intellectual disability, alcoholism, or drug addiction to drive a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> with safety to persons or property, the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall forthwith <span class="dictionary">suspend</span> his license; however he shall not <span class="dictionary">suspend</span> the license if the person has been adjudged competent by judicial order or <span class="dictionary">decree</span>. The <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> shall require any person whose license has been suspended pursuant to this subsection to submit to an examination pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Examination of licensee believed unable to drive safely; suspension or restriction of license; license application to include questions as to abilities of applicant; false answers; examination of applicant; physician's, advanced practice registered nurse's, or physician assistant's statement" href="/46.2-322/">46.2-322</a> or <a class="law" title="Examination of applicants; waiver of Department's examination under certain circumstances; behind-the-wheel and knowledge examinations" href="/46.2-325/">46.2-325</a>.
			In any case in which the person&#x2019;s license has been suspended prior to his discharge, it shall not be returned to him unless the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> is satisfied, after an examination pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Examination of licensee believed unable to drive safely; suspension or restriction of license; license application to include questions as to abilities of applicant; false answers; examination of applicant; physician's, advanced practice registered nurse's, or physician assistant's statement" href="/46.2-322/">46.2-322</a> or <a class="law" title="Examination of applicants; waiver of Department's examination under certain circumstances; behind-the-wheel and knowledge examinations" href="/46.2-325/">46.2-325</a>, that the person is competent to drive a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> with safety to persons and property.
			The facility operated or licensed by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services shall send the necessary information to the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> to initiate the examination process pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Examination of licensee believed unable to drive safely; suspension or restriction of license; license application to include questions as to abilities of applicant; false answers; examination of applicant; physician's, advanced practice registered nurse's, or physician assistant's statement" href="/46.2-322/">46.2-322</a> or <a class="law" title="Examination of applicants; waiver of Department's examination under certain circumstances; behind-the-wheel and knowledge examinations" href="/46.2-325/">46.2-325</a>. <a id="paragraph-278304" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-400/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Notwithstanding any other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span>, the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> reserves the right to examine any licensed <span class="dictionary">driver</span>, any person applying for a <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license or renewal thereof, or any person whose license has been suspended or revoked to determine his fitness to drive a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Examination of licensee believed unable to drive safely; suspension or restriction of license; license application to include questions as to abilities of applicant; false answers; examination of applicant; physician's, advanced practice registered nurse's, or physician assistant's statement" href="/46.2-322/">46.2-322</a> or <a class="law" title="Examination of applicants; waiver of Department's examination under certain circumstances; behind-the-wheel and knowledge examinations" href="/46.2-325/">46.2-325</a>. <a id="paragraph-278305" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-400/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 46-418; 1950, p. 949; 1954, c. 213; 1958, cc. 154, 541, &#xA7; 46.1-427; 1964, c. 230; 1987, c. 413; 1988, c. 78; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 921; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2012, cc. 476, 507; 2017, c. 156.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
