Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 186
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.570 (2026)

Denial or suspension of license -- Informal hearing -- Appeal -- Surrender

✓ current as of May 2026
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of certificate -- Medical review board -- Prohibition against raising insurance on basis of denial or suspension for child support arrearage. (1) The cabinet or its agent designated in writing for that purpose may deny any person an operator's license or may suspend the operator's license of any person, or, in the case of a nonresident, withdraw the privilege of operating a motor vehicle in this state, subject to a hearing and with or without receiving a record of conviction of that person of a crime, if the cabinet has reason to believe that: (a) That person has committed any offenses for the conviction of which mandatory revocation of a license is provided by KRS 186.560; (b) That person has, by reckless or unlawful operation of a motor vehicle, caused, or contributed to an accident resulting in death or injury or serious property damage; (c) That person has a mental or physical disability that makes it unsafe for him or her to drive upon the highways. The medical review board established in KRS 186.444 shall provide technical assistance in the review of the driving ability of these persons; (d) That person is a habitually reckless or negligent driver of a motor vehicle or has committed a serious violation of the motor vehicle laws; (e) That person has been issued a license without making proper application for it, as provided in KRS 186.412 or 186.4121 and administrative regulations promulgated in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A; (f) That person has presented false or misleading information as to the person's residency, citizenship, religious convictions, or immigration status; (g) A person required by KRS 186.480 to take an examination has been issued a license without first having passed the examination; (h) That person has been convicted of assault and battery resulting from the operation of a motor vehicle; (i) That person has failed to appear pursuant to a citation or summons issued by a law enforcement officer of this Commonwealth or any other jurisdiction; (j) That person has failed to appear pursuant to an order by the court to produce proof of security required by KRS 304.39-010 and a receipt showing that a premium for a minimum policy period of six (6) months has been paid; or (k) That person is a habitual violator of KRS 304.39-080. For purposes of this section, a "habitual violator" means any person who has operated a motor vehicle without security on the motor vehicle as required by Subtitle 39 of KRS Chapter 304 three (3) or more times within a five (5) year period, in violation of KRS 304.99-060(2). (2) The cabinet shall deny any person a license or shall suspend the license of an operator of a motor vehicle upon receiving written notification from the Office of the Attorney General that the person has a child support arrearage which equals or exceeds the cumulative amount which would be owed after six (6) months of nonpayment or failure, after receiving appropriate notice, to comply with a subpoena or warrant relating to paternity or child support proceedings, as provided by 42 U.S.C. sec. 651 et seq. The denial or suspension shall continue until the arrearage has been eliminated, payments on the child support arrearage are being made in accordance with a court or administrative order, or the person complies with the subpoena or warrant relating to paternity or child support. Before the license may be reinstated, proof of elimination of the child support arrearage or proof of compliance with the subpoena or warrant relating to paternity or child support proceedings as provided by 42 U.S.C. sec. 666(a)(16) from the court where the action is pending or the Office of the Attorney General shall be received by the Transportation Cabinet as prescribed by administrative regulations promulgated by the Office of the Attorney General and the Transportation Cabinet. (3) The cabinet or its agent designated in writing for that purpose shall deny any person an operator's license or shall suspend the operator's license of any person, or, in the case of a nonresident, withdraw the privilege of operating a motor vehicle in this state where the person has been declared ineligible to operate a motor vehicle under KRS 532.356 for the duration of the ineligibility, upon notification of the court's judgment. (4) The cabinet or its agent designated in writing for that purpose shall provide any person subject to the suspension, revocation, or withdrawal of his or her driving privileges, under provisions of this section, an informal hearing. Upon determining that the action is warranted, the cabinet shall notify the person in writing by mailing the notice to the person by first-class mail to the last known address of the person. The hearing shall be automatically waived if not requested within twenty (20) days after the cabinet mails the notice. The hearing shall be scheduled as early as practical within twenty (20) days after receipt of the request at a time and place designated by the cabinet. An aggrieved party may appeal a decision rendered as a result of an informal hearing, and upon appeal an administrative hearing shall be conducted in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B. (5) (a) The cabinet may suspend the operator's license of any resident upon receiving notice of the conviction of that person in another state of an offense there which, if committed in this state, would be grounds for the suspension or revocation of an operator's license. The cabinet shall not suspend an operator's license under this paragraph if: 1. The conviction causing the suspension or revocation is more than five (5) years old; 2. The conviction is for a traffic offense other than a felony traffic offense or a habitual violator offense; and 3. The license holder complies with the provisions of KRS 186.442. (b) If, at the time of application for an initial Kentucky operator's license, a person's license is suspended or revoked in another state for a conviction that is less than five (5) years old, the cabinet shall deny the person a license until the person resolves the matter in the other state and complies with the provisions of this chapter. (c) The cabinet may, upon receiving a record of the conviction in this state of a nonresident driver of a motor vehicle of any offense under the motor vehicle laws, forward a notice of that person's conviction to the proper officer in the state of which the convicted person is a resident. (d) This subsection shall not apply to a commercial driver's license. (6) The Transportation Cabinet is forbidden from suspending or revoking an operator's license or assessing points or any other form of penalty against the license holder for speeding violations or speeding convictions from other states. This subsection shall apply only to speeding violations. This section shall not apply to a person who holds or is required to hold a commercial driver's license. (7) Each operator's license which has been canceled, suspended, or revoked shall be surrendered to and destroyed by the cabinet. At the end of the period of cancellation, suspension, or revocation, the license holder may reapply under KRS 186.412 or 186.4121, after the licensee has complied with all requirements for the issuance or reinstatement of his or her driving privilege. (8) Insurance companies issuing motor vehicle policies in the Commonwealth shall be prohibited from raising a policyholder's rates solely because the policyholder's driving privilege has been suspended or denied pursuant to subsection (2) of this section. Effective: July 1, 2025 History: Amended 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 59, sec. 6, effective July 1, 2025; and ch. 72, sec. 2, effective June 27, 2025. -- Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 100, sec. 27, effective January 1, 2019. -- Amended 2013 Ky. Acts ch. 119, sec. 4, effective July 1, 2013. -- Amended 2008 Ky. Acts ch. 21, sec. 1, effective July 15, 2008. -- Amended 2005 Ky. Acts ch. 99, sec. 145, effective June 20, 2005; ch 152, sec. 3, effective June 20, 2005; and ch. 165, sec. 3, effective June 20, 2005. -- Amended 2003 Ky. Acts ch. 189, sec. 3, effective June 24, 2003. -- Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 264, sec. 7, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 2001 Ky. Acts ch. 139, sec. 1, effective June 21, 2001. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 255, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1998; ch. 426, sec. 123, effective July 15, 1998; ch. 442, sec. 6, effective July 15, 1998; and ch. 565, sec. 4, effective July 15, 1998. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 318, sec. 72, effective July 15, 1996; and ch. 341, sec. 11, effective July 15, 1996. -- Amended 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 381, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1994; and ch. 416, sec 8, effective July 15, 1994. – Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 136, sec. 2, effective July 14, 1992. -- Amended 1990 Ky. Acts ch. 455, sec. 30, effective July 13, 1990. -- Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 287, sec. 2, effective June 17, 1978. -- Amended 1974 Ky. Acts ch. 74, Art. IV, sec. 20(7). -- Amended 1972 Ky. Acts ch. 92, sec. 1. -- Amended 1968 Ky. Acts ch. 152, sec. 121. -- Amended 1946 Ky. Acts ch. 127, sec. 8. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. sec. 2739m-50. Legislative Research Commission Note (7/1/2025). This statute was amended by 2025 Ky. Acts chs. 59 and 72, which do not appear to be in conflict and have been codified together. Legislative Research Commission Note (7/15/94). This section was amended by 1994 Ky. Acts chs. 381 and 416. Where these Acts are not in conflict, they have been codified together. Where a conflict exists, Acts ch. 416, which was last enacted by the General Assembly, prevails under KRS 446.250.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 12 cases, 1957–2017 · leading case: Sturgill v. Beard, 303 S.W.2d 908 (Ky. Ct. App. 1957).
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Sturgill v. Beard, 303 S.W.2d 908 (Ky. Ct. App. 1957). · cites it 42× “400, including the administration of the provisions of KRS 186.570. The latter statute in pertinent part provides: "The department * * * may immediately suspend the license of any person, * * * operating a motor vehicle in this state, with or without hearing, and with or without…”
Commonwealth, Transp. Cabinet v. Weinberg, 150 S.W.3d 75 (Ky. Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 4× “400 and KRS 186.570. KRS 186.400 specifically grants the Cabinet the authority to promulgate regulations to carry out the directives of KRS 186.”
Commonwealth v. Duncan, 939 S.W.2d 336 (Ky. 1997). · cites it 3× “Pursuant to KRS 186.570, the Transportation Cabinet may independently suspend the licenses of motorists in nearly a dozen instances, including but not limited to situations where a motorist has, by reckless or unlawful operation of a motor vehicle, caused or contributed to an…”
Div. of Driver Licensing, Dep't of Veh. Reg., Transp. Cabinet v. Bergmann, 740 S.W.2d 948 (Ky. 1987). “On June 4, he requested a hearing under KRS 186.570(2) prior to the Transportation Cabinet taking any action relative to his license.”
Commonwealth v. Sales, 173 A.3d 825 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). · cites it 3× “We look to Kentucky law only to determine the standard for proving notice of the suspension, which is codified in KRS § 186.570(4). Under that provision, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet must provide written notice of the suspension to the licensee by first-class mail.”
Rentschler v. Lewis, 33 S.W.3d 518 (Ky. 2000). “See KRS 186.570(l)(b). Rentschler attempted to introduce evidence of that fact at trial and tendered the following proposed jury instruction: It was the duty of Defendant, Timothy S.”
Commonwealth, Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Thomas, 467 S.W.2d 335 (Ky. Ct. App. 1971). · cites it 8× “580 without first determining what requirements of due process procedures are to govern the Department of Public Safety in taking action under KRS 186.570, which is the section providing for discretionary suspensions.”
Transp. Cabinet v. Feige, 889 S.W.2d 52 (Ky. Ct. App. 1994). “See KRS 186.570; Speers v. Commonwealth, Ky., 828 S.”
Commonwealth v. Fisher, 74 S.W.3d 750 (Ky. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 3× “Fisher has relied upon KRS 186.570(3) to support his claim that he is entitled to a hearing.”
Commonwealth Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Glasscock, 415 S.W.2d 106 (Ky. Ct. App. 1966). · cites it 3× “It will be observed that KRS 186.570, relating to discretionary suspension of an operator’s license, does not make the operator’s “conviction” a condition precedent to disciplinary action.”
Commonwealth, Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Walker, 481 S.W.2d 681 (Ky. Ct. App. 1972). “The revocation was entered under KRS 186.570 which relates to discretionary suspension of an operator’s license "with or without a hearing” and “with or without receiving a record of conviction of that person of a crime” whenever the department has reason to believe that “that…”
Commonwealth v. Blakely, 223 S.W.3d 107 (Ky. 2007). “The definition for habitual violator according to KRS 186.570(l)(k) is: "For purposes of this section, a ‘habitual violator' shall mean any person who has operated a motor vehicle without security on the motor vehicle as required by Subtitle 39 of this chapter three (3) or more…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.570(2) — 1 case
Div. of Driver Licensing, Dep't of Veh. Reg., Transp. Cabinet v. Bergmann, 740 S.W.2d 948 (Ky. 1987). “On June 4, he requested a hearing under KRS 186.570(2) prior to the Transportation Cabinet taking any action relative to his license.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.570(3) — 2 cases
Commonwealth v. Duncan, 939 S.W.2d 336 (Ky. 1997). “Pursuant to KRS 186.570, the Transportation Cabinet may independently suspend the licenses of motorists in nearly a dozen instances, including but not limited to situations where a motorist has, by reckless or unlawful operation of a motor vehicle, caused or contributed to an…”
Commonwealth v. Fisher, 74 S.W.3d 750 (Ky. Ct. App. 2001). “Fisher has relied upon KRS 186.570(3) to support his claim that he is entitled to a hearing.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.570(4) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Sales, 173 A.3d 825 (Pa. Super. Ct. 2017). “We look to Kentucky law only to determine the standard for proving notice of the suspension, which is codified in KRS § 186.570(4). Under that provision, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet must provide written notice of the suspension to the licensee by first-class mail.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.570(8) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Fisher, 74 S.W.3d 750 (Ky. Ct. App. 2001). “Fisher has relied upon KRS 186.570(3) to support his claim that he is entitled to a hearing.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.570(d) — 1 case
Commonwealth Dep't of Pub. Saf. v. Glasscock, 415 S.W.2d 106 (Ky. Ct. App. 1966). “It will be observed that KRS 186.570, relating to discretionary suspension of an operator’s license, does not make the operator’s “conviction” a condition precedent to disciplinary action.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.570(l)(b) — 1 case
Rentschler v. Lewis, 33 S.W.3d 518 (Ky. 2000). “See KRS 186.570(l)(b). Rentschler attempted to introduce evidence of that fact at trial and tendered the following proposed jury instruction: It was the duty of Defendant, Timothy S.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.570(l)(d) — 1 case
Commonwealth, Transp. Cabinet v. Weinberg, 150 S.W.3d 75 (Ky. Ct. App. 2004). “400 and KRS 186.570. KRS 186.400 specifically grants the Cabinet the authority to promulgate regulations to carry out the directives of KRS 186.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 186.570(l)(k) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. Blakely, 223 S.W.3d 107 (Ky. 2007). “The definition for habitual violator according to KRS 186.570(l)(k) is: "For purposes of this section, a ‘habitual violator' shall mean any person who has operated a motor vehicle without security on the motor vehicle as required by Subtitle 39 of this chapter three (3) or more…”
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