Specialized Driving Privileges (SDP)
Indiana drivers whose licenses have been suspended by the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles or a court may petition to obtain a Specialized Driver's Privilege (sometimes called a "hardship" license). Specialized Driving Privileges allow Indiana residents to drive for specific purposes while their Indiana driver's license is suspended.
The Madison County Prosecutor's Office is dedicated to reducing recidivism by helping those whose licenses have been suspended obtain specialized driving privileges if they legally qualify and do not pose a risk to public safety.
Under Indiana Code section 9-30-16-3, an individual who seeks specialized driving privileges must file a petition that includes a verification by the petitioner, the petitioner’s age, date of birth and address, states the exact type of privilege you wish to receive and the reasons behind it, and it must be filed it in the court where the suspension was handed down. A copy of your official driving record can be purchased here:
Specialized driving privileges are not available to certain people if they/their:
1) have never been an Indiana resident;
2) refused to submit to a chemical tested offered under I.C. 9-30-6 or I.C. 9-30-7 (a court may grant this person driving privileges under I.C. 9-30-6-8(d));
3) sentence resulted from operation of a motor vehicle causing death;
4) have previously been granted specialized driving privileges and have more than one (1) conviction for knowingly or intentionally violating a condition imposed regarding issuance of a specialized driving privilege when the condition arose from a motor vehicle offense involving serious bodily injury or death of another person
5) who were suspended or revoked by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles as incompetent or unfit to operate a motor vehicle under I.C. 9-24-10-7(b)(2)(A), or who were suspended under I.C. 9-21-8-52(e) or I.C. 9-21-12-1(b) concerning passing a school bus. See I.C. 9-30-16-1(a), 2(c) and 3(e).
