Everything You Need to Know About Occupational Limited Licenses (OLL) in Pennsylvania
A motorist who is faced with a driver’s license suspension may be eligible for an Occupational Limited License under limited circumstances. The Occupational Limited License, or OLL, is one of three limited licenses available in Pennsylvania.
What is an OLL?
The Occupational Limited License, commonly referred to as a “bread and butter license” or “hardship license,” is designed to aid people to get to and from work, to and from a course of study, and to and from counseling and/or medical appointments. Since the OLL is a restricted license, a person who commits a moving violation on this license is subject to more severe sanctions than a person driving on a regular driver’s license. Driving outside the scope of that license would also put the driver at risk to be cited for Driving Under Suspension.
Who is Eligible to Get an OLL in Pennsylvania?
There are certain violations and circumstances that determine a driver’s eligibility for an OLL. Drivers convicted of driving on a suspended registration, accumulation of points suspensions, drivers required to be licensed suspensions, careless driving involving serious bodily injury or death and violations under limited circumstances (only after serving the first 90 days of the suspension) are a few examples of qualifying convictions.
Types of Traffic Violations Making a Driver Eligible for an Occupational Limited License
Certain violations and circumstances determine a driver’s eligibility for an OLL in Pennsylvania. Here are some specific examples:
1. Driving on a Suspended Registration:
Drivers who have had their registration suspended but have not been convicted of more serious driving offenses may be eligible for an OLL.
2. Accumulation of Points Suspensions:
Drivers who accumulate excessive points on their driving record may face a suspension. After serving a portion of this suspension, they may apply for an OLL.
3. Careless Driving Involving Serious Bodily Injury or Death:
Under certain circumstances, drivers convicted of careless driving that resulted in serious injury or death may be eligible for an OLL, typically after serving the first 90 days of their suspension.
4. Violations Under Limited Circumstances:
Specific violations may be eligible for OLL only after serving a portion of the suspension period. For instance, some cases of driving without a license might qualify.
5. Certain First Offense Violations:
First-time offenders of minor violations that do not involve DUI or drug-related charges may be considered for an OLL.
How Long Does It Take to Get an Occupational License in PA
From the time the application is received at PennDOT, they have 20 business days to process the application.
How to Apply for an OLL in Pennsylvania?
Applications for the Occupational Limited License can be found on PennDOT’s website. Although you are not required to have an attorney to apply for such a license, sometimes Attorneys can assist in making sure that the motorist is eligible for the limited license to begin with and then assist with putting together the Petition and supporting documentation, which will ultimately be reviewed by the Department of Transportation.
Get Legal Help from an Experienced Traffic Lawyer
The application for the Occupational Limited License can take some time to complete and can get confusing. Don’t take the chance of an application denial when your job and your family’s well-being depend on it.
Our team of experienced traffic attorneys at Colgan & Associates stand ready to assist with your matter. We proudly offer free phone consultations to individuals seeking for the best resolution of their traffic violation and suspended license issue. If you or someone you know is going through a license suspension case in Pennsylvania, please reach out to us today at (717) 790-2048
Other Frequently Asked Questions About Work License (OLL) in PA
Does a second DUI disqualify the person from getting on OLL?
Occupational Limited Licenses are no longer available for any DUI suspensions in Pennsylvania. For certain DUI convictions, especially those that require an ignition interlock device, drivers may be eligible for an Ignition Interlock Limited License (IILL) instead of an OLL. This is a different type of limited license that requires the installation of an ignition interlock device in the vehicle?
Can I get a license to work for a drug charge suspension?
Drug convictions no longer result in suspensions under Pennsylvania law. The law was further updated in 2022 to apply retroactively, providing relief to individuals who had their licenses suspended due to past drug convictions. This means that both new and old drug convictions no longer carry the penalty of a driver’s license suspension in Pennsylvania?.
Can I apply for an OLL to work so I can pay my fines?
If you are not current on a payment plan with the courts or have defaulted on a payment plan relative to motor vehicle code violations, you will not be eligible for an OLL.
