How Many Points On Your License for Speeding?

Instances of speeding attract tickets that hurt your driving record. But how many points on your license are added for speeding? This varies from state to state. Some states will add hefty points to your driving history records. In contrast, other states will only have your insurance premiums increased slightly by notifying your insurance carrier about the speeding act. In this article, we will explain how the point system works and explain how many points on your license for speeding.

The Driving Point System in the US

To regulate the drivers on the roads, many states in the US have adopted a point-based system. Each time there’s a violation, a set number of points are deducted from the total points. Therefore, points are part of the driving license scheme.

But not all states have adopted this system in the US. In states like Hawaii, Kansas, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wyoming, Minnesota, Mississippi, and Louisiana, you do not have points added to your driving record. Instead, the authorities have other methods to determine when the driving license should be suspended.

So, how many points on your license for speeding? When you begin, you’ll have zero points on your driving record. As you violate laws, the points are added to your record. The number of points a specific violation attracts depends on a particular state. For Ohio, here is how the points are added:

• Fleeing officer – 6 points
• Street racing – 6 points
• Driving under suspension – 6 points
• Speed (30 or more over limit) – 4 points

Similarly, in the state of Kentucky, most common violations add from 3 to 6 points on your license. 12 points accumulated within a 2-year period will lead to suspension of your license.

Other states have different points on your license for these violations. Based on how many points you have accumulated over a certain period, your driving license might be revoked.

But in some states, the points are reduced instead of adding up. So when you’re handed a driving license, your total points will be set at a certain number. As you violate the laws over time, the points are deducted accordingly.

This is something you need to check with the Department of Motor Vehicles of the state you’re residing in.

The states that do not have a points-based system simply count the number of violations you’re involved in to determine whether or not to revoke your license.

The points on your license accumulated disappear after a certain period. If you maintain a clean record, then a certain number of points will be added back to your driving record.

The insurance companies also adopt a similar points-based system to determine the risk level of a driver. They may or may not follow the procedure followed by the State DMV. Insurers do track the road offenses you have committed and the seriousness of the offense. Based on these two factors, among others, they assign points to your record.

Speed Ticket Violations

When it comes to speed driving, it is considered a violation in almost all states. If you ignore a speed limit sign and drive at a higher speed, law authorities will ticket you for this offense.

The number of points deducted or added to your license depends on the laws of the state. Ohio adds 34 points for speeding. Similarly, New York DMV can deduct up to 11 points for speeding. Maine imposes up to 6 points for speeding violations.

When determining the speeding points, DMVs also take into account your speed. For example, if you were 1 to 15 MPH over the limit, you will attract 4 points to your driving record. If you were 16 to 29 MPH over the limit, expect 6 points added to your record. Excessive acceleration adds up 4 points.

When determining the points for speeding, you should refer to your state’s DMV.

Too many points too soon can result in revocation or suspension of your license. The suspension can be between 30 days and up to 2 years, depending on the violation. Your insurance may also increase your premiums in such cases. The best way to avoid points is to drive safely and stay clear.

If you receive tickets for a speed violation and have your points deducted/added, you can challenge that in court. For that purpose, you must hire a traffic ticket lawyer in your city and send a formal letter to the DMV or appropriate authority.

To learn more about the points-based system, and understand how many points on your license for speeding, contact our expert attorneys today.