The Department of Motor Vehicles uses a point system to keep track of every driver’s history. If a person has no point assessed from his or her driver’s license, this means that he or she has had no driving issues. But, if a person has one or more points assessed against a driving license, the DMV might consider this person an unsafe driver. Ideally, you don’t want to deal with any points against your driver’s license. Here, I will talk a little more about the point system. You can learn what different motor vehicle violations will result in.

It is in your best interest to avoid getting points assessed against your driver’s license. Points can affect your ability to drive. All points will remain on your license for two years. If you accumulate 7 or more points against your license in a three year period, you will have to take a driver retraining course. A situation that is even more serious is if a person accumulates 10 or more points in a period of two years. If this happens to you, the DMV can suspend your license for at least 30 days. You will have the opportunity to defend yourself. You can try to prove that you did not get 10 points assessed against your license in a 24 month period. This can happen with the help of a lawyer.

If you are close to having 10 points assessed against your driver’s license, the DMV will contact you. This point of contact will act as a warning from the DMV. It is important that the DMV has your up-to-date personal information so that this warning or any other communication will reach you.

Below is a list of motor vehicle infractions and the points that they carry. It is important to keep in mind that you will only have a point assessed against your license if you are found guilty of speeding. If you plead nolo contendere or if you are found not guilty, there won’t be any points assessed against your license for speeding.

One Point:

• Operating at unreasonable rate of speed (Sec. 14-218a).
• Speeding (Sec. 14-219).
• Failure to drive in right-hand lane (Sec. 14-230).
• Illegal use of limited access highway by bus, commercial vehicle or vehicle with trailer (Sec. 14-230a).
• Improper operation on multiple-lane highways (Sec. 14-236).
• Improper operation on divided highway (Sec.14-237).
• Wrong direction at rotary or one-way street (Sec. 14-239).
• Improper turn, illegal turn, illegal stopping, failure to signal intention to turn (Sec. 14-242).
• Improper backing or starting (Sec. 14-243).
• Failure to give proper signal (Sec. 14-244).
• Operator’s duties on stopping a school bus (Sec. 14-277).
• Operation of motorcycles abreast, illegal passing (Sec. 14-289b).
• Wrong way on one way street (Sec. 14-303).

Two Points:

• Slow speed, impending traffic (Sec. 14-220).
• Disobeying orders of officer (Sec. 14- 223a).
• Entering or leaving controlled access highway at other than designated entrance or exit (Sec. 14-238).
• Entry upon a limited access highway other than a highway intersection or designated point (Sec. 14-238a).
• Executing turn from wrong lane or contrary to traffic control devices (Sec. 14-241).
• Failure to obey signal at railroad crossing (Sec. 14-249).
• Failure to observe parkway or expressway restrictions (Sec. 14-298).
• Failure to obey traffic control signal light (Sec. 14-299).
• Failure to obey yield sign (Sec. 14-302).
• Operating a vehicle through pedestrian safety zone (Sec. 14-304).

Three Points:

• Driving while impaired (Sec. 14-227a(b)).
• Failure to keep right when meeting opposing traffic (Sec. 14-231).
• Improper passing or failure to yield to passing vehicle (Sec. 14-232).
• Passing on right (Sec. 14-233).
• Passing in no passing zone (Sec. 14-234).
• Failure to keep to right on curve, grade or approaching intersection (Sec. 14-235).
• Failure to drive reasonable distance apart (Sec. 14-240).
• Failure to grant right of way at intersection (Sec. 14-245).
• Failure to yield when emerging from driveway or private road (Sec. 14-247).
• Failure to grant right of way when emerging from alley driveway or building (Sec. 14-247a).
• Failure to grant right of way to pedestrian (Sec. 14-300).

Four Points:

• Wagering, speed record (Sec. 14-224c).
• Failure to drive reasonable distance apart, intent to harass (Sec. 14-240a).
• Passing stopped school bus (Sec. 14-279).

Five Points:

• Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle (Sec. 14-222a).
• Operation of school bus at excessive speed Sec. 14-281a).

For help avoiding points against your license, please contact our office.