Having too many traffic tickets on your driving record has serious consequences in Virginia. You could see increases in your auto insurance, have your driver’s license suspended, or even have your driver’s license revoked.
The best defense is to practice safe driving habits to avoid getting a traffic ticket in the first place. But if you already have a traffic ticket or two on your driving record, you may be wondering how to get a ticket dismissed in Virginia. Here’s what you need to know about the process.
Different Types of Traffic Tickets in Virginia
Traffic tickets are assigned a certain number of demerit points depending on the severity of the violation. If you get 12 demerit points in 12 months (or 18 points in 24 months), you will be required to take a Virginia driver's improvement course.
In Virginia, traffic tickets are grouped into three-point violations, four-point violations, and six-point violations.
Three-Point Violations
Three-point violations include:
Minor speeding infractions (going too slow or up to 9 mph over the speed limit)
Improper passing
Improper turns
Improper use of lights
Learner’s permit violations
Driving without a valid driver’s license
Driving with earphones
These violations can stay on your record between three and five years, depending on the severity of the infraction.
Four-Point Violations
Four-point violations include:
Reckless speeding infractions (going 10-19 mph over the speed limit)
Unsafe passing
Failure to stop or yield
Failure to keep to the right
Following too closely
Improper driving at railroad crossings
These violations can stay on your record between three and 11 years, depending on the severity of the infraction.
Six-Point Violations
Six-point violations include:
Reckless speeding infractions (going 20 mph or more over the speed limit)
Reckless driving (racing, passing a school bus, passing an emergency vehicle, etc.)
Driving under the influence
Manslaughter
Habitual violations
Driving on a suspended or revoked license
Hit-and-runs
These violations can stay on your record between three and 11 years, depending on the severity of the infraction.
The good news is that you can earn safe driver credit to offset demerit points. One safe driver credit point is awarded each year you don’t have any violations or suspensions (up to five points). Or you can earn five safe driving points by completing a Virginia driver's improvement course.
To see your current point total, simply log into the Virginia DMV’s portal.
How to Get a Traffic Ticket Dismissed in Virginia
Because of the points system in Virginia, you don’t exactly get a traffic ticket dismissed; instead, you earn safe driver credit points to offset the demerit points incurred because of your traffic ticket.
Since you can earn five safe driver credit points from a Virginia driver's improvement course, you can effectively offset a three- or four-point traffic ticket and have a point or two remaining to reduce the impact of any future ticket.
Here’s what you need to do to claim your driver's improvement safe driver credit:
Clarify your reason for taking a driver's improvement course. There are seven reasons accepted by the Virginia DMV, and they don’t all qualify for safe driver credit.
Enroll in a state-approved driver's improvement course. If you are 20 or older, you have the option to take your course from an online driving school in Virginia, which will likely be faster and more convenient than a classroom course.
Provide your certificate of course completion to the Virginia DMV to claim your safe driver credit.
Other Benefits of Virginia Drivers Improvement Courses
Offsetting your traffic ticket demerit points isn’t the only reason to take a Virginia driver's improvement course.
The single greatest benefit of taking a driver's improvement course is that you learn how to be a safer driver. Protecting yourself and your passengers on the road is more important than earning safe driver credits.
But there’s another side benefit to completing a driver improvement course. You could save money on your insurance premiums! Many insurance companies offer a safe driver discount to drivers who complete these courses. With these benefits, there’s no need to wait until you have a ticket to take advantage of driver improvement courses. Enroll in an online driving school in Virginia today to earn your safe driver credit and stay safe on the road.
