Traffic infractions are technically a violation of state law. However, in most cases they are less serious than standard criminal offenses. Police officers who catch people breaking traffic statutes usually do not arrest them but instead issue them citations and allow them to proceed on their way.
The driver then has the option of paying the ticket or fighting the citation. Paying the ticket is the equivalent of pleading guilty. The fine is not the only penalty assessed in that scenario. The state also adds points to a driver’s license based on the severity of the traffic offense. If the driver accumulates too many points in a short amount of time, the state can suspend their driver’s license.
How many traffic tickets must a driver receive before their license is at risk?
Different offenses carry different points
Depending on the type of citation that an officer issues, a driver could lose their license after only a few traffic tickets or possibly as many as 12. Getting caught littering while driving, for example, is a one-point offense. A driver would need a dozen citations to be at risk of losing their driving privileges.
If the tickets issued to a driver add up to 12 points within a three-year period, they risk a driver’s license suspension The state can also suspend the license of a driver who accrues another eight points without three years of license reinstatement. A first suspension lasts for 60 days, while the second lasts for six months. Any suspension after the second can last for a year.
Driving with a child who is not in proper restraints can add three points. So can driving without a license, running a red light or failing to report a crash. Driving on the wrong side of the road is a four-point offense. So is illegal passing. Passing a stopped school bus adds five points to a driver’s record, just like aggressive driving. A driver could lose their license after as few as three tickets in some cases. Particularly when drivers already have a prior citation on record or when a ticket carries four or five points, fighting a pending citation might be the best option available.
Understanding the consequences of traffic tickets can help people plan the best response. Those who successfully fight their tickets can preserve their driving privileges and avoid secondary expenses, like increased insurance costs.