What Does The California DMV Identify as a Mental Health Disorder? Can They Suspend Your Driver’s License?

Article by Delta Driving School

The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is tasked with the duty of ensuring all drivers in the state maintain the requisite skill and knowledge for safely operating a motor vehicle. Additionally, the DMV is concerned that California drivers maintain a proper level of mental health to demonstrate their fitness for driving.

While the issue of mental health is a private matter that should ultimately be Justify between a patient and their doctor, the DMV still has the authority to investigate into any suggestion that a driver suffers from a mental health disorder. The conditions that the DMV identify as a mental health disorder include:

Bipolar Disorder

Schizophrenia

Anxiety

Dementia

Alzheimer’s Disease

PTSD

Even though many of these mental health conditions can be treated through therapy or the use of medications, the DMV will seek to ensure that any driver diagnosed with a mental health disorder can demonstrate that their condition is stable and does not have an effect on their driving. Also, the DMV is equally concerned that a driver’s use of prescription medications could impair their driving. Depending on the severity of the allegation and the source of the information, the DMV may investigate a driver’s mental health condition. The actions they may take range from:

Taking no action against the driver’s license

Directing the driver to participate in the Re-examination process

Suspending the driver’s license and offer the person the right to a hearing

About the Author: This article is courtesy of Delta Driving School. They are a Driving School in La Canada, Glendale, Eagle Rock and La Crescenta in Southern California.