How Long Do Points Stay on Your License

Did you know that you’re driving record does not expire? If you have committed a moving violation within the last year, points will stay on your license for 3 years. Many people think that when you pay a ticket or go to court that the points will go away after one year. That is partially true. You will not be cited for the same offense again in one year but if you get another moving violation before that time, the previous points will still show up on your record.

Accumulating points on your license

Driving in the state of California is a privilege, not a right. Those who drive on our roads and highways are governed by a set of laws and regulations that are designed to keep us safe.

One of these regulations is known as the point system. The point system is used by the DMV to track your driving history and determine whether or not you qualify for an automobile insurance discount.

What Is The Point System?

The point system was created by the California legislature in 1990 as part of Senate Bill 730. This bill gave the DMV the authority to penalize drivers who were convicted of certain traffic violations with demerit points on their driving record.

Demerit points stay on your license for three years after they are added to your record. After this period has elapsed, they will be removed from your overall driving history unless another violation occurs during that time frame.

Driving under the influence can result in multiple points against your license

The length of time depends on several factors, including the severity of the offense and whether it was a first or repeat offense.

1. The number of points you accumulate on your driving record will determine how long you must wait before you are eligible for reinstatement. For example, if you accumulate eight points in two years, you must wait 90 days before you are eligible for reinstatement. If you accumulate 10 points in two years, it will be one year before you can apply for reinstatement.
2. If your license is restricted due to an at-fault accident or conviction for a moving violation that results in more than five points against your driving record in any 12-month period, then the length of time that your license is restricted will be longer than if there were no restrictions on it.

Reckless driving can also net you points against your license

Reckless driving is a criminal offense that carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. For a first offense, reckless driving can result in 12 points on your driver’s license.

This can increase to 15 points if you were operating a commercial vehicle at the time of the offense, or if you have any prior convictions for reckless driving or other serious moving violations within the past 36 months.

If you’re convicted of reckless driving, your license will be suspended for 60 days and it will take six months before you can reinstate your license following an administrative hearing.

Getting caught without insurance in many states will result in a point against your license, so make sure to carry coverage at all times

If you get a ticket for driving without insurance in many states, it will result in a point against your license. If you accumulate too many points, your license could be suspended.

In most states, if you are pulled over for driving without insurance and have no other violations on your record, the offense is usually not serious enough to warrant suspension. However, some states may take away your license for up to 30 days if they discover that you do not have auto insurance while investigating an accident or traffic stop.

As of 2015, these states have penalties for failing to maintain proof of insurance:

• Arizona – 3 points on your driving record
• California – 4 points on your driving record
• Colorado – 4 points on your driving record (first offense)
• Connecticut – 2 points on your driving record (first offense)
• Florida – 3 points on your driving record (first offense); 2 points on second offense within 5 years; 1 point on third or subsequent offenses within 5 years
• Georgia – 5 points on your driving record (first offense); 2 points on second offense within 5 years; 1 point on third or subsequent offenses within 5 years

The DMV keeps a record of your license points for years after they have been added to your total

If you accumulate 12 or more points on your driving record, your driver’s license may be suspended. To get it back, you must complete a traffic school course and pay a reinstatement fee. The California DMV keeps records of all traffic violations and accidents for seven years. This includes: All tickets and accidents reported to the DMV.

Conclusion

If you have points on your license, my advice is to immediately contact a traffic lawyer or traffic school. The consequences you face depend on the number of points on your license and the seriousness of your offense, but they can be extreme. In the end, it’s better to get help than have to deal with missed work and thousands of dollars in fines.