Went to renew my driver’s license today only to learn that I had a mental health hold put on me

Now I have to jump through a bunch of hoops to maybe be able to drive again in several weeks

So much for de-stigmatization, that’ll teach me not to tell people about my problems

  • @faltryka
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    281 day ago

    Is depression enough alone for a mental health hold? Feels like that should require more criteria.

    • @Death_Equity
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      41 day ago

      If you are taking prescription medication or have declared a mental health condition, you usually have to fill out an additional form that your healthcare provider needs to complete and then the DMV goes from there.

      If you don’t declare you have a mental health condition and/or that you are taking medication, you are lying to the government and they don’t like that.

      So your options are fucking yourself or maybe really get fucked by the government.

      • @[email protected]
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        321 hours ago

        There is exactly one mention of mental health in Utah law for a drivers license. You’re better off telling your story instead of acting like this was a surprise. You wouldn’t have gotten 99% of the comments doubting you.

        41-6a-502
        Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs see: 41-6a-509(8)

        41-6a-517(11)
        Driving with any Measurable Controlled Substance in the body.

        Court may shorten suspension period if the person: [there are seven different options, below is the relevant one]

        Completes educational series approved by the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (if treatment is not ordered);

        • @lemonmelon
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          314 hours ago

          The Utah DLD has easily found information on their website regarding mental health and driving privileges. On dld.utah.gov/drivers, under the section “Medical Standards for Drivers” you can find a list of medical categories pertaining to drivers. Specifically, Category G relates directly to mental health, and seems to entrust health care providers with broad discretionary power per my reading.

          If you have more trouble navigating their site than I did, the direct link to the .pdf detailing the safety levels associated with Category G is https://dld.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/17/2024/08/Category-G-2024.pdf.

          • @[email protected]OP
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            24 hours ago

            I just found that and was about to link it!

            I’m not sure what my doctor would report my condition as, but since I’ve felt depressed within the last two years I’m technically at least Safety Assessment Level 2, which means a doctor needs to give the DMV an annual health report or my license gets suspended. (Technically Zoloft, one of the most common depression medications, has drowsiness as a potential side effect. So I very well could be SAL 6, which requires a review every 6 months and a doctor’s specific recommendation to drive)

            I didn’t know any of that, because I got my license and diagnosis before that law existed, and never got the letter telling me to get a report or telling me my license was suspended

        • @[email protected]OP
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          116 hours ago

          It’s definitely not a substance thing, I’m a teetotaler with a possibly unreasonable fear of addiction/dependency and a nearly spotless driving record

          I’ll have to wait for the form to arrive to see their criteria, so I might update in “7-10 business days” when that happens