Aside from medical, impaired and distracted driving suspensions, there are a number of other reasons your driver’s licence can be suspended or restricted.
Criminal Code conviction suspensions
Driving a vehicle in Manitoba is a privilege. If you are convicted of certain offences under the Criminal Code you will lose that privilege. Some examples of these offences are:
- dangerous driving
- criminal negligence
- flight from police
- auto arson
- auto vandalism
- taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent
- auto theft
- possession of property obtained by crime
- possession, selling or purchasing master keys
If you are convicted of any of these offences, you will receive an automatic driver’s licence suspension and you may lose your eligibility to obtain a licence in the future. It also disqualifies you from operating an off-road vehicle, agricultural equipment and infrastructure equipment.
If you are convicted of any of these offences, you will face a suspension ranging from one year to life. For offenders under 16 years of age, the suspension starts on their 16th birthday.
Note: A discharge under the Criminal Code for certain driving related offences may be treated as a conviction under The Highway Traffic Act.
Street racing
If you are suspected by police of street racing, you can receive an immediate seven-day administrative suspension. The suspension can be issued with or without any accompanying charges of street racing under The Highway Traffic Act.
You would be required to pay a driver’s licence reinstatement charge once you have served your suspension.
Family maintenance
Your driver’s licence may be suspended due to an order from the Department of Justice, because you have outstanding family maintenance payments (The Family Maintenance Act).
For more information, visit the Maintenance Enforcement Program at 100-352 Donald Street in Winnipeg or call 204-945-7133. Once you settle the matter, Maintenance Enforcement will notify us. You can then apply for a driver’s licence.
Infrastructure and agricultural equipment
If your driver’s licence is suspended for any reason, you may not operate infrastructure and agricultural equipment on provincial highways and urban roads. These vehicles include self-propelled farm equipment, such as combines, and heavy equipment such as front-end loaders, cranes, forklifts and graders. You may be able to obtain a conditional licence, allowing you to operate this type of equipment.
For further information on obtaining conditional licences, contact the Licence Suspension Appeal Board.