{"id":3438,"date":"2023-01-26T04:40:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-26T04:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=3438"},"modified":"2025-01-17T16:55:57","modified_gmt":"2025-01-17T16:55:57","slug":"drivers-license-points","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freeway.com\/knowledge-center\/auto\/drivers-license-points\/","title":{"rendered":"Critical Things You Need to Know About Driver\u2019s License Points"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What Are Driver\u2019s License Points?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Points are a numerical penalty the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) applies to an individual’s driver record when they commit certain traffic violations. The driver record is a record of all the traffic violations committed by the driver over a specified period of time. Different moving violations are worth a different number of Driver Violation Points<\/a> \u2013 and once a driver reaches a certain number of points in a specified period of time, the DMV will take action, such as imposing penalties and even suspending their driver’s license. Your car insurance<\/a> rates may also be affected if you exhibit poor driving behavior. Driving carefully and obeying traffic rules is always the best bet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On average, this program assigns between two and four Driver Violation Points to a person’s driver record if they are guilty of a moving traffic violation. But it varies considerably: Illinois assigns 20 Driver Violation Points for texting while driving. Considering that driver\u2019s license codes vary from state to state, it\u2019s essential to check the driver\u2019s license points program where you live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Driver Violation Points are for moving violations only, meaning the DMV doesn\u2019t apply any for non-moving minor offenses. One thing worth noting \u2014 the number of Driver Violation Points depends on the type of violation. For instance, the Driver Violation Points assigned for a speeding ticket are different than those assigned for an illegal lane change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Many Points Can I Get Before My License is Suspended?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each state has its own set of rules around the points system \u2013 and some states don\u2019t use it at all. For those states that do, there\u2019s typically a number of points handed out for each moving violation. Once you accumulate a specified number of points in a designated time period, your license may be suspended. Most states start the time frame by the violation date, not the date of conviction.Remember, even though a state may not use a formal points system, they typically have some other form of identifying high-risk drivers<\/a>. Just because you don\u2019t accumulate points, you can still face a suspended  license or revocation for a certain number of moving violations (MV) or very serious actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

State<\/strong><\/td>Number of Points<\/strong><\/td>Time Frame for License Suspension<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
Alabama<\/td>12-14<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Alaska<\/td>12 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Arizona<\/td>8 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Arkansas<\/td>14 points<\/td>When you reach 14 points<\/td><\/tr>
California<\/td>4 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Colorado<\/td>12 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Connecticut<\/td>10 points<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Delaware<\/td>14 points<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
District of Columbia<\/td>14 points<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Florida<\/td>12 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Georgia<\/td>15 points<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Hawaii<\/td>No point system<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
Idaho<\/td>12-17 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Illinois<\/td>3 violations<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Indiana<\/td>2 violations<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Iowa<\/td>3 violations<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Kansas<\/td>No point system<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
Kentucky<\/td>12 points<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Louisiana<\/td>No point system<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
Maine<\/td>12 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Maryland<\/td>8 points<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Massachusetts<\/td>3 surchargeable offenses<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Michigan<\/td>12 points<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Minnesota<\/td>4 violations<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Mississippi<\/td>No point system<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
Missouri<\/td>12 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Montana<\/td>30 points<\/td>36 months<\/td><\/tr>
Nebraska<\/td>12 points<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Nevada<\/td>12 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
New Hampshire<\/td>12 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
New Jersey<\/td>12 points<\/td>When you reach 12 points<\/td><\/tr>
New Mexico<\/td>7 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
New York<\/td>11 points<\/td>18 months<\/td><\/tr>
North Carolina<\/td>12 points<\/td>36 months<\/td><\/tr>
North Dakota<\/td>12 points<\/td>When you reach 12 points<\/td><\/tr>
Ohio<\/td>12 points<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Oklahoma<\/td>10 points<\/td>60 months<\/td><\/tr>
Oregon<\/td>No point system<\/td>3 criminal violations in 5 years<\/td><\/tr>
Pennsylvania<\/td>2 points for minor, 5 for major violations<\/td>When you reach 6 points for a second offense<\/td><\/tr>
Rhode Island<\/td>No point system<\/td>3 reckless driving in 12 months<\/td><\/tr>
South Carolina<\/td>12 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
South Dakota<\/td>15 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Tennessee<\/td>12 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Texas<\/td>No point system<\/td>4 MV in 12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Utah<\/td>35 points minor, 80 points major<\/td>200 points in 36 months<\/td><\/tr>
Vermont<\/td>10 points<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Virginia<\/td>18 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Washington<\/td>No point system<\/td>3 serious offenses in 5 years<\/td><\/tr>
West Virginia<\/td>12 points<\/td>24 months<\/td><\/tr>
Wisconsin<\/td>12 points<\/td>12 months<\/td><\/tr>
Wyoming<\/td>No point system<\/td> <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Different states assign different points for offenses. For example, in California, running a red light is 1 point. In New York, it\u2019s worth 2 points. In Florida, you\u2019ll be looking at 4 points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Can I Get Points For?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the majority of cases, points will be for moving violations only. These typically consist of what is defined as minor and major infractions. Some states use more subtle ways to catch their drivers breaking traffic laws, including cameras that are used to monitor speed limit and red light runners. These nefarious traffic monitors are sneaky \u2013 in some cases, you won\u2019t even know you\u2019ve broken the law and been caught until a bill comes in the mail. Sometimes the difference between a minor offense and a major one is at the discretion of the ticketing police officer, so it behooves you to be polite when you get pulled over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All states assign different numerical values to each of these. A speeding ticket<\/a> is the most common moving violation across the board and the number of points you receive may depend on how fast you were driving over the posted limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minor Traffic Offenses<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most states consider the following to be minor violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n