{"id":7005,"date":"2026-09-16T13:09:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-16T10:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leagus.lt\/?p=7005"},"modified":"2026-09-16T13:25:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-16T10:25:20","slug":"financial-fraud-and-unauthorized-payments-when-is-a-bank-required-to-reimburse-stolen-funds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leagus.lt\/en\/financial-fraud-and-unauthorized-payments-when-is-a-bank-required-to-reimburse-stolen-funds\/","title":{"rendered":"Driving License Suspension Under the Code of Administrative Offenses: Time Limits and How to Shorten Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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The revocation of a driver\u2019s license is one of the most severe consequences faced by drivers who violate traffic laws. Work, family obligations, and daily mobility\u2014all of these depend on having a driver\u2019s license. Therefore, the question of whether it\u2019s possible to shorten this period or avoid it altogether is one of the most pressing issues for drivers. <\/p>

In this article, we explain how the Code of Administrative Offenses (ANK) regulates the suspension of a driver\u2019s license, for which violations it applies, and what realistic options are available for seeking a shorter suspension period.<\/p>

What is the revocation of a driver’s license under the Code of Administrative Offenses?<\/strong><\/h3>

Pursuant to Article 28 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, the revocation of special rights (including the right to drive vehicles) is an administrative measure imposed, together with an administrative penalty, by a court or an authority hearing the case in a non-judicial proceeding, if the person, while exercising that right, committed an administrative offense. This means that the revocation of the right to drive is not the penalty itself\u2014it is an additional measure applied in conjunction with it. <\/p>

The specific time limit in each case depends on which article (and section) of the Code of Administrative Offenses applies to the specific violation; therefore, it is important to know exactly under which article the person is being held liable.<\/p><\/div>

It should also be noted that the court or the authority that has examined an administrative offense case through non-judicial proceedings (official), taking into account the nature of the administrative offense committed, the form and type of the offender\u2019s culpability, the offender\u2019s character, and the mitigating and aggravating circumstances, and guided by the principles of justice and reasonableness, may impose a less severe administrative sanction than that provided for in the Code of Administrative Offenses or may refrain from imposing any sanction.<\/p>

Table of Driving License Suspension Periods by Article of the Code of Administrative Offenses<\/strong><\/h3>

The ANK provides for a wide range of driving suspension periods\u2014from one month to seven years\u2014depending on the nature and severity of the violation and whether it is a repeat offense. Below is an overview of the most common cases (the periods may change, so it is always worth checking the current version of the code). <\/p>

Violation<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

ANK Article<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

Term<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/thead>

A vehicle without a license plate or with an invalid license plate<\/p><\/td>

Article 415, Paragraph 8 <\/p><\/td>

from 1 month to 3 months <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Driving with forged or covered license plates<\/p><\/td>

Article 415, Paragraph 8 <\/p><\/td>

from 6 months to 1 year <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Speeding by more than 50 km\/h<\/p><\/td>

Article 416, Paragraph 7 <\/p><\/td>

from 1 month to 6 months (up to 1 year and 6 months for beginners) <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Failure to stop at a crosswalk \/ driving through a red light<\/p><\/td>

Article 417, Paragraph 8 <\/p><\/td>

from 1 month to 6 months <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Overtaking in areas where it is prohibited under the Traffic Rules; dangerous driving that endangered traffic safety<\/p><\/td>

Article 420, Paragraph 1 <\/p><\/td>

from 3 months to 6 months <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Reckless driving<\/p><\/td>

Article 420, Paragraph 2 <\/p><\/td>

from 1 m to 2 m <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Reckless Driving (Repeat Offense)<\/p><\/td>

Article 420, paragraph 3 <\/p><\/td>

from 1 year and 6 months to 2 years and 6 months <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Violation of railroad crossing rules<\/p><\/td>

Article 421, Paragraph 2 <\/p><\/td>

from 2 months to 6 months <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Driving Lessons with an Intoxicated Instructor<\/p><\/td>

Article 422, paragraph 6 <\/p><\/td>

from 11 months to 1 year and 1 month <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Driving without a license or with a suspended license<\/p><\/td>

Article 424, paragraphs 3 and 4 <\/p><\/td>

from 6 months to 1 year <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Driving Without a License (Repeat Offense)<\/p><\/td>

Article 424, Paragraph 5 <\/p><\/td>

from 1 year and 6 months to 2 years <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Leaving the Scene of a Traffic Accident<\/p><\/td>

Article 426, Paragraph 1 <\/p><\/td>

from 1 year to 3 years (may be granted) <\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Failure to comply with a police order to stop a vehicle<\/p><\/td>

Article 426, Paragraph 5 <\/p><\/td>

from 3 m to 5 m <\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

The length of the penalty depends not only on the type of violation itself, but also on whether the driver was intoxicated, the level of intoxication, and whether the violation was a repeat offense within the past year. That is precisely why the correct classification of the violation (i.e., under which article and section the person is being held liable) is the first step, on which the possible duration of the penalty depends. <\/p>

Why does it matter whether confiscation is \u201cmandatory\u201d or merely \u201cpossible\u201d?<\/strong><\/h3>

It is important to consider not only the time period itself, but also whether, under the relevant article of the Code of Administrative Offenses, the revocation of the right to drive must<\/strong> be imposed or whether it may be<\/strong> imposed. This distinction fundamentally changes what can be challenged in general. <\/p>

When the Code specifies that a driver\u2019s license may be<\/strong> revoked (for example, for operating a vehicle without license plates under Article 415, Paragraph 8 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, or for failure to yield the right of way, driving in the oncoming lane, or using a cell phone while holding it in one\u2019s hand under Article 417(8) of the Code of Administrative Offenses), the decision-making authority has the discretion to either revoke the right to drive or impose only a fine. In such a case, it is possible to challenge not only the fact of the violation but also the very question of whether revocation of the right to drive is necessary at all in this specific instance. <\/p>

When the Code stipulates that a license suspension must<\/strong> be imposed (for example, for reckless driving under Article 420(6) of the Code of Administrative Offenses, for excessive speeding under Article 416(7) of the Code of Administrative Offenses, for a violation of railroad crossing rules under Article 421(2) of the Code of Administrative Offenses), the issue of the suspension itself has already been decided in advance\u2014the authority is required to impose it. In such cases, the following must be assessed: whether the elements of the offense have been proven at all, and specifically, within what range (for example, between three and six months) the term should be set, and whether it is possible, pursuant to Article 34(6) of the Code of Administrative Offenses, to request that a more lenient administrative sanction be imposed or that no sanction be imposed at all. <\/p>

Therefore, even before you begin drafting a petition or complaint, it is worth checking which specific article and section apply to the case\u2014this determines whether the defense strategy addresses the question of \u201cwhether to revoke the license at all,\u201d or is limited to the question of \u201chow long.\u201d<\/p><\/div>

Is it possible to shorten the period of a driver’s license suspension?<\/strong><\/h5>

Article 34(4) of the Code of Administrative Offenses provides for the possibility, in exceptional cases, of imposing a shorter period of disqualification from driving than the minimum period specified in the sanction, or of not imposing this sanction at all, if sufficiently compelling mitigating circumstances are established in the case. Judicial practice emphasizes that this is not an automatic rule, and the specific circumstances of each case are evaluated individually. <\/p>

In practice, success is most often determined by:<\/p>