- Home
- Government
- Courts
- Clerk of Courts
- License Suspension
DUI and License Suspension
Pursuant to Act 30 of 2017, effective October 20, 2018, the Chester County Clerk of Courts Office will no longer accept drivers’ licenses and/or license products when suspended upon conviction for criminal cases. Licenses and/or license products are required to be mailed directly to PennDOT. A letter from PennDOT with instructions for surrendering your license/license products will be sent to your last known address on record with the Clerk of Courts Office. ALL license products must be surrendered to PennDOT in order receive credit for suspension.
For more information, visit PennDOT.
ARD is considered a diversionary or "first time offender" program, designed to divert first time offenders from entering the criminal justice system. When a first time offender is accepted into the ARD program, the Commonwealth suspends the charges against the offender, but requires that certain court-ordered conditions are followed. Similar to a probationary program, the ARD program requires a period of supervision.
Once the program is completed successfully, the original criminal charges are dismissed, and the offender may, thirty days after completion of the program, request the court to expunge the offender's arrest record and ARD participation.
Admission to ARD is controlled by the District Attorney, who has broad discretion as to whom to allow into the program. There are no guarantees that the District Attorney will approve an ARD application. It is based on nature and circumstances of the offense. To contact the Chester County District Attorney’s office, call 610-344-6801.
Discrepancies involving fees, insurance, receiving of license/affidavit, etc. must be handled by PennDOT. The Clerk of Courts is not responsible for any issues that may arise once your license or license products have been mailed to PennDOT.
Appeals of license suspension must be filed with the Prothonotary’s Office within 30 days of suspension.
For license restoration and other information, contact PennDOT at 1-800-932-4600 or visit their website.
For more information, visit PennDOT.
Chester County ARD Program
ARD is considered a diversionary or "first time offender" program, designed to divert first time offenders from entering the criminal justice system. When a first time offender is accepted into the ARD program, the Commonwealth suspends the charges against the offender, but requires that certain court-ordered conditions are followed. Similar to a probationary program, the ARD program requires a period of supervision.
Once the program is completed successfully, the original criminal charges are dismissed, and the offender may, thirty days after completion of the program, request the court to expunge the offender's arrest record and ARD participation.
Admission to ARD is controlled by the District Attorney, who has broad discretion as to whom to allow into the program. There are no guarantees that the District Attorney will approve an ARD application. It is based on nature and circumstances of the offense. To contact the Chester County District Attorney’s office, call 610-344-6801.
Discrepancies involving fees, insurance, receiving of license/affidavit, etc. must be handled by PennDOT. The Clerk of Courts is not responsible for any issues that may arise once your license or license products have been mailed to PennDOT.
Appeals of license suspension must be filed with the Prothonotary’s Office within 30 days of suspension.
For license restoration and other information, contact PennDOT at 1-800-932-4600 or visit their website.