What is a Point on a Driver's License?
Getting points on your driver’s license can be upsetting, and getting them removed can be costly. Understanding what points are, how they are given out, and steps to remove them is important for all drivers.
The Points System
The points system is a tool used by courts and state motor vehicle licensing agencies to penalize people who commit the same traffic offenses multiple times. This system first became common in the US in the 1970s, but not all states use it. Points help law enforcement to identify repeat offenders more easily, and to deter drivers from committing the same offense in the future.
Getting points on your license can have serious and unpleasant consequences, such as:
Increased auto insurance costs
A suspended or revoked license
Large fines, penalties, and fees
How Points Work
Each state has its own laws regarding what offenses receive a driving record point and what the penalty is for getting one or more points. In states where the points system is used, the state motor vehicle agency makes a note of any traffic offense on the driver’s record. The more serious the offense, the more points are added. When a person reaches a specific number of points, they may have their license revoked or suspended.
For example, under the points system in California, a license can be suspended or revoked if a person has:
Four or more points in 12 months
Six or more points in 24 months
Eight or more points in 36 months
However, points are not the only reason for the suspension of a driver’s license. In California you can also have your driver’s license taken away for:
Having an accident without auto insurance
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Refusing an alcohol or drug test when stopped by law enforcement
Failure to appear at a court hearing
Other Violations Leading to Driving Record Points
Many states use points to penalize young drivers and commercial drivers more severely than everyone else. In California, holders of a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) receive 1½ times the penalty for the same infraction incurred by non-commercial drivers.
In California, passenger car drivers are awarded one point for the following infractions:
Illegal U-turns
Failing to stop for a school bus
Failure to use child-safety seats
Failure to stop for a pedestrian
While the following all result in two points:
Driving over 100 miles per hour
Driving with a revoked or suspended license
Committing a hit-and-run traffic offense
Reckless driving
Removing Points from Your Driving Record
In most cases, points are automatically removed from a driving record after a specific amount of time. This ensures that those who commit isolated offenses are not permanently penalized. For example, in California a single point is removed after 39 months. Points for serious infractions can take as long as ten years to clear.
In many circumstances, a person can avoid getting points added to their driving record by attending traffic school within a specified time after receiving a ticket.
