A Guide to Traffic Violations in Indiana

The state of Indiana operates on a point system for traffic violations, much like other states throughout the country. The severity of the violation determines the amount of points assessed to the driver, and range in value between 2 and 8. If you’re convicted of a violation which carries points, those points will stay on your driving record for a period of 2 years. However, not all violations are created equal, and not all violations carry points, either. Here is an Indiana traffic violations guide that will help you navigate the legal system, should you find yourself in a sticky situation.

Different Types of Violations

There are two distinct kinds of violations in Indiana: moving and non-moving.

• A moving violation is just what it sounds like – a violation committed while you are driving the car. These include speeding, reckless driving, failure to use a turn signal, running a red light or stop sign, driving while intoxicated, etc. These types of violations will incur points onto your driving record.
• A non-moving violation is any other citation – a parking ticket, failure to provide proof of insurance, and failure to appear/failure to pay, to name a few. These citations do not incur points on your driving record.

Typically the moving violations will be more severe, thus incurring more points, higher fines and penalties than non-moving violations. However, failure to appear before the court or pay for your traffic ticket will result in the suspension of your driving privileges. Similarly, failure to meet insurance requirements will also result in license suspension for 90 days, unless your insurance agency electronically submits your proof of insurance to the BMV. If you are unable to provide proof, you will be automatically listed on the Previously Uninsured Motorists Registry (PUMR); the BMV randomly selects drivers from this list 3 times a year and requests proof of insurance, which must be provided in lieu of license suspension.

Infractions and Point Values

Some examples of the most common traffic violations which carry points are:

• Speeding 1-15 MPH over the limit – 2 points
• Failure to use headlights – 2 points
• Speeding 16-25 MPH over the limit – 4 points
• Illegal U-turn – 4 points
• Speeding 26+ MPH over the limit – 6 points
• Failure to stop at a stop sign – 6 points
• Failure to yield to an emergency vehicle – 8 points
• Driving on a suspended license – 8 points

Why Do Points Matter?

An accumulation of points will put a serious damper upon your driving privileges. Once a driver has reached 18 points during any 2-year period, Indiana traffic laws state that he or she will be required to attend a hearing at the BMV. The driver may be put on probation for a certain period of time, or his or her license could be suspended anywhere from 30 days to 1 year. Additional requirements may be assessed based upon the severity of the accumulation of fines, or whether the driver is a habitual traffic violator (HTV). Indiana’s HTV law inflicts serious penalties upon drivers who consistently repeat traffic offenses over a 10-year period. These drivers face up to a 5-10 year suspension, and have been convicted of the following:

• Reckless homicide or voluntary/involuntary manslaughter due to operating a motor vehicle
• Driving while intoxicated
• Driving on a suspended license
• Criminal reckless driving
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Drag racing

Any driver who accumulates 10 moving violations which includes one of the above-mentioned major offenses will be dealt with quite harshly by the state.