Fla. Admin. Code R. 12E-1.023 (2026)

_{(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)Definition. For purposes of this rule“delinquency”meansthe totalamountof support that has come dueand isunpaid pursuant to the payment schedule set forth in thesupport order.}

_{(3)Suspension Criteria.}

_{(a)TheDepartment is authorized pursuant toSection61.13016, F.S., toinitiateaproceeding forthe suspension of anobligor’s driver licenseand theregistration of allmotor vehicles solely owned bythe obligor when:}

_{1. Theobligor is 15 daysdelinquent in makingasupportpayment, or}

_{2. Theobligorfails to complywith a subpoena, order to appear, order to show cause, or}

_{similar order relatingtopaternityor support proceedings.}

_{(b)TheDepartmentshallinitiate aproceedingto suspend the driver licenseandthe registration of allmotorvehiclessolelyowned bythe obligor for non-payment ofsupportin an obligor’scaseif thecriteriain subparagraph (3)(a)1., and thefollowingcriteriaaremet, unless anyof the factors listed in paragraph (3)(c), arepresent:}

_{1. TheDepartment has avalid mailingor residential address for theobligor,}

2. The delinquency in the case is:

_{a.Equal to orgreaterthan$400, or}

_{b. Greater than $100 andless than $400, and:}

_{(I) For aweeklysupport obligation,the Department has not receivedand postedapayment in the past10 days or longer,}

_{(II) For abi-weeklysupport obligation,the Department has not receivedand posted a payment in thepast17 days or longer,}

_{(III) For asemi-monthlysupport obligation,the Departmenthas not received and posted a paymentin thepast18 daysor longer,}

_{(IV) For amonthlysupportobligation,the Department has not receivedand posted a payment in thepast34 days or longer,}

_{(V) For aquarterlysupport obligation,the Department has not received and posted apayment in thepast95 days or longer,}

_{(VI) For asemi-annual support obligation,the Department has not received and posted a paymentin thepast186 daysor longer,}

_{(VII) For an annual support obligation,the Department has not received andposted a payment in thepast368 days or longer,}

_{(VIII) For aone-time support obligation,the Department has not received and posted a paymentin thepast 34 daysor longer,}

_{(c) TheDepartmentmaynot initiate aproceedingto suspend an obligor’s driverlicense or motor vehicleregistration for non-payment of supportif anyof thefollowingfactors arepresent:}

_{1. Theobligorreceives temporarycashassistance,}

2. The obligor receives Supplemental Security Income benefits,

_{3. Theobligor is complyingwith awritten agreementthe obligorentered withthe Department,}

_{4. Theobligorreceives reemployment assistance(formerlyknownas unemployment compensation),}

_{5. TheDepartment has initiated an incomededuction noticeto an employeror other payorof incomeduringthe employer’s orpayor’s most recent payfrequency(e.g.,weekly, monthly), if known, orduringthe support order obligation frequency(e.g.,weekly, monthly),}

_{6. Theobligor is payingsupport pursuant to an income deduction notice,}

_{7. TheDepartment has placedan overrideon driver licensesuspension actions in the case, for example, when acourt has prohibiteddriver licensesuspensionin the case,}

_{8. TheDepartment has anyof thefollowing complianceactions pendinginthe case:}

_{a. A past-duenoticesentto theobligor,}

_{b. An appointment lettersent to the obligor,}

_{c. An action to report theobligor’s overduesupport balancetoconsumer reportingagencies,}

_{d. An action to suspend the obligor’s business, professional, occupational, or recreational licenseor certification,}

_{e. A legal action againstthe obligorfor contempt of court orto establish arepayment on past-duesupport,}

_{f.An action to placealien on the obligor’s motorvehicle(s)or vessel(s),}

_{g. Areferral of theobligor’s caseto another state’s TitleIV-D agencyto take compliance actions againstthe obligor,}

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

_{10. Theobligorreceivesbenefits underthefederalSocial SecurityDisability Insurance program,or}

_{11. Theobligor is makingpayments in accordancewith a confirmed bankruptcyplan under Chapter11, 12, or13 oftheU.S. BankruptcyCode,}

_{(4)Noticeto Obligor ofIntent to Suspend DriverLicense; Noticeto Suspend Motor Vehicle Registration.}

_{(a)InaccordancewithSection 61.13016(1), F.S., the Departmentsendsto the obligor by regularmailaNoticeofIntent to Suspend DriverLicenseand MotorVehicle Registration(s), Form CS-EF55,incorporated herein byreference,effective 11/23, (http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-15989), The noticeismailed to the obligor’s address of record with theDepartment ofHighwaySafetyand Motor Vehicles.}

_{(b)In addition to the noticerequired by paragraph (4)(a), ifthe Department has information that using another address is morelikelyto resultin actual noticeto theobligor, theDepartment shall mail the noticeto theobligorat that address.}

_{(c)Serviceof thenoticeis complete upon mailing.}

_{(5)Termination ofDriverLicenseSuspension Process;Termination ofMotor Vehicle Registration SuspensionProcess.After theDepartmenthas provided noticeto theobligor ofits intent to suspend theobligor’s driver license andmotor vehicleregistration(s), but before the Department has notified theDepartment of HighwaySafetyand MotorVehiclesto suspend, the Department shallterminateapendingsuspension actionif theobligor satisfiesanyof the conditions in Section 61.13016(3), F.S.TheDepartment shallalso terminate a pendingsuspensionactionas follows:}

(a) If the suspension action in a case was initiated due to non-payment of support, the _{Department will terminatethe action when:}

_{1. TheDepartment closesthe case,}

_{2. An incomedeductionpayment is received:}

_{a. Duringthe pastsevendaysforaweeklyobligation,}

_{b. Duringthepast 14 days forabi-weeklyobligation,}

_{c. Duringthe past 15 days forasemi-monthlyobligation,}

_{d. Duringthepast 31 days foramonthlyobligation,}

_{e. Duringthe past 92days foraquarterlyobligation,}

_{f. Duringthe past 183 daysfor asemi-annual obligation,}

_{g.Duringthepast 365 daysfor an annual obligation,}

_{(b)If thesuspension action in a casewas initiateddueto afailureto complywith a subpoena, order to appear, order toshow cause, order to appear forgenetictesting,orsimilar order,the Department shallterminate the action when:}

_{1. TheDepartmentclosesthe case,or}

_{2. A court orders theDepartment to terminate theaction.}

_{(6)Written Agreementsfor Payment of Past-Due Support.}

_{(a)Rule 12E-1.027,F.A.C., governs therequirements and proceduresforenteringinto a written agreement with theobligorforpayment of past-duesupport.}

_{(b)If theobligor defaultson apayment required bythe written agreement,theDepartment shall, withoutfurther noticeto theobligor, notifythe Department of HighwaySafetyand Motor Vehicles to suspend the obligor’s license and registration(s), as provided bythe terms ofthe written agreement, unless oneof the circumstances listed in paragraph (5)(a), exists.}

_{(7)Reinstatement of theDriverLicense; Reinstatement ofMotor VehicleRegistration.}

_{(a) The Department shallnotifytheDepartment of HighwaySafetyand MotorVehiclesto reinstate an obligor’s driver licenseandmotor vehicleregistration(s)in a caseas follows:}

_{1. Ifthe suspension action in a caseis initiated dueto non-payment ofsupport, the Department shall notifytheDepartment of HighwaySafetyand MotorVehicles toreinstate the obligor’s driver licenseand motor vehicleregistration(s)when:}

_{a. TheDepartment closesthe case,}

_{b. An incomedeductionpayment is received,}

_{c. Theobligor pays the delinquencyin full,}

_{d. Theobligorenters intoawritten agreement withthe Department,}

_{e. Theobligor demonstrates that he orshereceives reemploymentassistance,}

_{f. Theobligor demonstrates that he orsheis disabled and incapable ofself-support,}

_{g. TheobligorreceivesSupplemental Security Income benefits,}

_{h. Theobligorreceives benefits underthefederalSocial SecurityDisability Insurance program,}

_{i. Theobligorreceivestemporarycash assistance,}

_{j. Theobligor is makingpayments in accordancewith a confirmed bankruptcyplan under Chapter11, 12, or13 of theU.S. BankruptcyCode,}

_{k. A court orders the reinstatement of the licenseand motor vehicleregistration,or}

_{l. TheDepartmentrequests 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 toshow cause,order to appear forgenetictesting, orsimilar order, the Department shall notifytheDepartment of HighwaySafetyand MotorVehicles toreinstate the obligor’s driver licenseand motor vehicleregistration(s)when:}

_{a. Theobligorcomplies with thesubpoenaororder,}

_{b. A court orders the reinstatement of the license and motor vehicleregistration,}

_{c. TheDepartmentrequests the suspension in error, or}

_{d. TheDepartment closesthe case.}

_{(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)Procedurefor Reinstatement.When the Department notifiesthe Department ofHighway Safetyand Motor Vehiclesto reinstate thedriver license and motor vehicleregistration, the Department shall also notifythe obligor that theDepartment is no longer pursuingsuspension action, and the obligor’sdriver licenseand motorvehicleregistration(s)is eligiblefor reinstatementupon the obligor payingapplicablefeesowed to theDepartment ofHighway Safetyand Motor Vehicles. TheDepartmentusesForm CS-EF57, DriverLicense/Vehicle Registration Reinstatement Notice, to notifyobligors theirdriverlicense andmotor vehicle registration are eligiblefor reinstatement.Form CS-EF57, DriverLicense/VehicleRegistration Reinstatement Notice, (Effective09/19/2017)} (_{http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-08621), is herebyincorporated by referencein 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.

Effective: 11/16/2023.