(a) Commencement of period.--The period of disqualification, revocation or suspension of the operating privilege or the disqualification of the commercial operating privilege shall commence as provided for in section 1540 (relating to surrender of license), except for the suspension of the operating privilege of an unlicensed individual under 16 years of age, in which case the suspension shall commence automatically upon the individual's 16th birthday for the specified period. The department may, upon request of the person whose license is suspended or disqualified, delay the commencement of the period of suspension or disqualification for a period not exceeding six months whenever the department determines that failure to grant the extension will result in hardship to the person whose license has been suspended or disqualified.

(a.1) Credit toward serving period of suspension for certain violations.--Credit toward serving the period of suspension or revocation imposed for sections 1543(b)(1.1) (relating to driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked), 3732 (relating to homicide by vehicle), 3735 (relating to homicide by vehicle while driving under influence), 3735.1 (relating to aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence), 3742 (relating to accidents involving death or personal injury), 3802 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance) and 3808(a)(2) (relating to illegally operating a motor vehicle not equipped with ignition interlock) shall not commence until the date of the person's release from prison.

(b) Eligibility for restoration of operating privilege.--Any person whose operating privilege has been revoked or suspended shall not be eligible for the restoration of the operating privilege until the expiration of the period of revocation or suspension.

(c) Restoration of revoked operating privilege.--Any person whose operating privilege has been revoked pursuant to section 1542 (relating to revocation of habitual offender's license) or 1543 is not entitled to automatic restoration of the operating privilege. Such person may apply for a learner's permit, if permitted under the provisions of this chapter, upon expiration of the revocation.

(d) Continued suspension of operating privilege.--A defendant ordered by the court under section 3816 (relating to requirements for driving under influence offenders), as the result of a conviction or Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition of a violation of section 3802 to attend a treatment program for alcohol or drug addiction must successfully complete all requirements of the treatment program ordered by the court before the defendant's operating privilege may be restored. Successful completion of a treatment program includes the payment of all court-imposed fines and costs, as well as fees to be paid to the treatment program by the defendant. For the purposes of restoring a suspended license, being current on a payment plan shall be considered as a part of a successfully completed program. If a defendant fails to successfully complete the requirements of a treatment program, the suspension shall remain in effect until the defendant completes the program and is otherwise eligible for restoration of his operating privilege. The treatment agency shall immediately notify the court of successful completion of the treatment program. The final decision as to whether a defendant has successfully completed the treatment program rests with the court.

(e) (Reserved).

(Dec. 11, 1986, P.L.1530, No.166, eff. 60 days; July 11, 1990, P.L.513, No.122, eff. Dec. 1, 1990; Dec. 7, 1994, P.L.820, No.115, eff. imd.; Dec. 12, 1994, P.L.1048, No.143, eff. 9 months; Dec. 21, 1998, P.L.1126, No.151, eff. 1 year; Oct. 4, 2002, P.L.845, No.123, eff. 60 days; Sept. 30, 2003, P.L.120, No.24, eff. Feb. 1, 2004; May 11, 2006, P.L.159, No.37, eff. 60 days; May 11, 2006, P.L.164, No.40, eff. 60 days; Oct. 27, 2006, P.L.1182, No.122, eff. 60 days; July 20, 2017, P.L.333, No.30, eff. 15 months)

2017 Amendment. Act 30 amended subsecs. (a) and (e).

2006 Amendments. Act 37 amended subsec. (d), Act 40 amended subsec. (a.1) and Act 122 added subsec. (e).

2003 Amendment. Act 24 amended subsecs. (a.1), (c) and (d).

2002 Amendment. Act 123 amended the section heading and subsec. (a).

Cross References. Section 1541 is referred to in section 3815 of this title.