![]() ![]() “I don’t think it’s fair at all to put people through this. I get that they’re trying to keep everyone safe,” she said. “I don’t know how they have that much power. It’s a lot to try to remember and all that,” Boston said.īetween 20, 54,316 Florida drivers had their licenses revoked by the Medical Advisory Board. “They literally can spend hours and hours and hours and a lot of work and providing all their medical records,” she said.īoston said she’ll have to pass a vision test, a driving test, and a written exam within 90 days of getting her last letter. Sammis charges clients $4,000 to assist them in getting licenses restored after a medical complaint has been made because it can be a long and challenging process. And they have immunity where you can’t find out who they are,” she said. “The people making the complaints, those are completely confidential. ![]() While often, the process is used to report family members who are no longer safe drivers it can also be used to retaliate against drivers. Sammis said anybody can make a report to the state claiming they have a medical condition, even if they don’t. She said some of her clients don’t have primary care providers, making finding someone to sign their forms challenging. ![]() “If your doctor isn’t willing to fill out the form to say you’re safe to drive, then they’ll just revoke your license permanently,” Sammis said. WFTS Allison Boston said she'll have to pass a written test, a vision test and a driving test to prevent the state from revoking her license. Sammis said the doctor’s letter is the only reason she’s still driving. “He wrote a letter saying there’s no reason why my driving privileges should be suspended, revoked, or anything. Sleep disorder, no,” she said, reading through the list.Īfter having surgery to remove her tumor, she said she no longer has symptoms or takes any medication.ĭoctors must verify the driver’s medical status as part of programīoston’s doctor, a neurologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, vouched for her health and ability. The state sent Boston a long list of questions to answer and send back to the board, intended to allow drivers to self-report medical issues. She said it’s often difficult for her clients to reach people on the phone or get direct answers after they have been notified that they have been reported as having a medical condition that makes them dangerous to drive. “The system itself is so secretive that I don’t think anyone really knows whether it works well or not,” Sammis said. The board can revoke drivers’ licenses for medical reasons, a process authorized under Florida Statutes intended to keep dangerous drivers off the road. “DHSMV came up with rules to revoke somebody’s license for medical reasons,” said Tampa Attorney Leslie Sammis, whose firm often helps drivers navigate the process.Ī board of physicians oversees the process called the Medical Advisory Board, which evaluates and sets medical and vision standards for Florida drivers. “I begged him not to do that because I knew you’re not even giving me a chance to go see a doctor or find out what’s going on or anything,” Boston said.īetween 20, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles initiated 79,215 cases as part of its medical review process. The physician’s assistant who treated her immediately filled out a form and sent it to the state saying she was no longer safe to drive. It started in June when Boston went to urgent care for dizziness.Īn MRI showed cancer from her lung, which had been in remission, spread to her brain. She has never had an accident, never had a speeding ticket, or even been pulled over by police.īut that may change soon since the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has threatened to revoke her license. Boston earned the designation “Safe Driver” on her license thanks to her driving habits over half a century. ![]()
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