| State |
Avg. Fines |
Points |
Traffic School |
License Suspension Rate |
Jail |
| Alabama |
Up to $165 |
2 points, expect neglible increase in insurance rates |
No, but judge and case specific circumstances allow for traffic school as means of dismissing ticket |
Case Specific |
Exluded from point count after two (2) years, unstated officially regarding driving record, but typically, never more than three (3) years |
| Alaska |
Up to $75 |
2 points, expect neglible increase in insurance rates |
Yes, more than 6 points in a year for provision license holders. Traffic school can be used once annually to reduce overall point total |
Two (2) suspensions based on points in two (2) years |
Point accumulating offenses on driving record for five (5) years |
| Arizona |
Law enforcement discretion |
2 points, expect neglible increase in insurance rates |
Not required, but voluntary attendance will dismiss ticket and avoid being placed on driving record |
Case Specific |
Point accumulating offenses on driving record for five (5) years |
| Arkansas |
Not more than $100 |
3 points, expect reasonable insurance rate increases |
Case specific, but potentially required |
License revocation on case specific basis |
Point accumulating offenses on driving record up to five (5) years |
| California |
Not more than $100 |
1 point, expect sligh premium increase |
Yes, case specific, but one offense per eighteen months may be masked from public view if completing traffic school |
License suspension reinstatement automatically requires adminstrative hearing |
One (1) point offenses remain on record for three (3) years, two (2) point offenses remain on record for seven (7) years |
| Colorado |
$80 to $120 |
2 points, expect neglible increase in insurance rates |
Yes, case specific, but will not dimiss points from record |
Hearing required to determine on case specific basis, 12 points accumulated equals mandatory suspension |
Point accumulating offenses on driving record no less than seven (7) years |
| Connecticut |
$75 or more, depending on location of offense |
2 points assessed, expect insurance premiums increase |
May be required by clerk, dismissal of fines or points possible through clerk approved traffic school arrangement |
Ten (10) points accrued result in suspension, revocation case specific pending hearing |
Points remain on driver record for two (2) years |
| Delaware |
Officer discretion |
2 points on record, expect negligible insurance rate increases |
Yes, case specific and required, may be used to reduce overall point count |
Accumulation of fourteen (14) points means mandatory suspension for four (4) months |
Points offenses remain on record at least three (3) years and up to more than five (5) pending offense |
| DC |
Officer discretion |
2 to 3 points assessed on record |
Yes, may be required, and can be used as means of reducing point total |
10 points accumulated requires 90-day suspension, 12 point accumulation requires revocation needing official reinstatement |
Points remain on driver's record for two (2) years |
| Florida |
Officer Discretion |
3 points on record, expect insurance rate increases |
Yes, and basic driver improvement courses are option for dimissing points |
Twelve (12) points in one (1) year requires mandatory suspension, revocation is case specific and determined by hearing |
Offenses resulting in points kept on driving record for seven (7) years |
| Georgia |
Court discretion, typically $150 to $325 |
3 points assessed, expect insurance premiums increase |
Yes, and potentially used for one violation reduction every five (5) years |
Accumulation of fifteen (15) points in two years results in suspension |
Offenses resulting in points kept on driving record for seven (7) years |
| Hawaii |
Officer discretion |
Point system not applicable in state |
Yes, may be mandated in event of serious offenses |
Case specific |
Offenses may remain on traffic abstract for no more than ten (10) years |
| Idaho |
Officer discretion $10 to $141.5 |
2 points assessed, expect insurance premiums increase |
Yes, once every three (3) years, drivers may reduce point total by three points |
Risk of suspension after 11 points in one (1) year or 17 points in two (2) years |
Point accumulating offenses on driving record for three (3) years |
| Illinois |
$75 |
5 to 20 points, depending on location, expect rates to increase |
Yes, required for some offenses, can be used as means of dismissing points in lieu of license suspension |
Mandatory suspension for accumulation of 15 points, revocations begin at 110 points |
Point accumulating offenses remain on record four (4) to five (5) years |
| Indiana |
Always in excess of $100, larger fines typically at officer discretion as well |
2 points or more assessed |
Yes, driver safety program required in case specific situations and in lieu of point total nearing suspension levels |
Suspension based on hearing if driver accrues more than 18 points in two (2) years |
Point accumulating offenses remain on record for two (2) years |
| Iowa |
Case specific |
None, violation may increase insurance premium rates though |
Yes, courts may require driver improvement program |
Suspension required if three (3) or more violations assessed in one (1) year period |
Point and other violations remain on record for at least five (5) years |
| Kansas |
$116 up to $176 |
Does not adhere to point system |
Yes, may be required, and may be done every three (3) years to garner better insurance premiums |
Conviction of three (3) moving violations in one (1) year risks license suspension |
Violation convictions on record up to five (5) years |
| Kentucky |
$20 up to not more than $100 |
3 points, expect reasonable insurance rate increases |
Yes, can elect to attend once per year if eligible to dismiss violation for given offense causing attendance |
Suspension hearing required if accumualted more than twelve (12) points in two (2) year period |
Points expire after two (2) years, but remain on driver record for five (5) years |
| Louisiana |
Not more than $175 for first offense |
No point system, reported to PDPS |
Yes, may be required, and can be used to suspend conviction of violation |
Specific violations result in suspension, including the vague wording of "excessive violations", number not noted |
Less than ten (10) years convictions remain on driving record |
| Maine |
No less than $25 and not more than $500 |
2 points assessed, expect small insurance premiums increase |
Yes, may be mandated, can be used to dimiss three (3) demerit points per one (1) year period |
License suspension for fifteen (15) days required for persons with more than 12 demerit points in 12 month period |
Violations remain on driving record for three (3) years up to no more than ten (10) years |
| Maryland |
Juridictional discretion, not more than $500 by state law |
1 point assessed, 3 points assessed if cause of accident |
None |
License revoked for drivers with 12 points (19 if driver using vehicle for employment) in two (2) years |
Violations expunged from driving record every three (3) year cycle |
| Massachusetts |
Not more than $20 |
No surchargeable points assessed for first offense, 2 points for second |
Yes, required if driver accumulates five (5) surchargeable events in three (3) years |
License suspensions begin with three (3) speeding violations being recorded in a one (1) year period |
All driving records remain in affect from "mid-eighties" to present |
| Michigan |
Jurisdictional, not more than $250 in almost all cases |
2 points assessed |
Yes, potentially mandated |
Accrual of 12 points on two (1) year period subject driver to license suspension of not more than one (1) year |
Points remain on driving record ever more than ten (10) years, affecting insurance rates for about three (3) years |
| Minnesota |
Not more than $200 |
None, violations may increase insurance premium rates though |
Yes, courts may require driver imporvement course in lieu of or on top of existing offenses |
Conviction of three (3) offenses in one (1) year results in license suspension, length determined via hearing |
Offense counts ended on yearly cycle |
| Mississippi |
Not more than $100 first offense, not more than $200 second offense in one (1) year |
No point system in state |
Yes, potentially mandated, but can be used to dimiss offenses |
Suspension or revocation at discretion of licensing agency |
Offenses maintained on active record for more than four (4) years |
| Missouri |
Not more than $200 |
2 points assessed |
Yes, either mandated or voluntarily undergone to reduce point total |
Driver subject to suspension for accumulation of more than 8 points in eighteen (18) months |
Moving violations maintained on record up to three (3) years, suspension on record for five (5) years |
| Montana |
$10 to $100 for first offense |
2 points assessed, expect rates to increase |
Yes, potentially mandated as sanction, but will not reduce or dismiss points |
Accrual of 6 points in eighteen (18) months makes driver subject to sanctions, but accrual of 15 points in thirty-six (36) months mandates suspension |
Points applied to record for three (3) years, but traffic violations remain in state database permanently |
| Nebraska |
First offense not more than $100, second offense not more than $200 |
1 point assessed, expect negligible rate increases |
Yes, possibly mandated as sanction, but also, can be used to remove 2 points every five (5) years |
Accumulation of 12 points in two (2) years immediately revokes license for six (6) months |
Driver's record viewed as public record, and infractions remain visible indefinitely |
| Nevada |
Not more than $1,000 for any offense, generally significantly less |
1 to 2 points assessed |
Yes, potentially required, but also, can be used once per one (1) year period to reduce points voluntarily |
Accrual of 12 points in twelve (12) months results in six (6) month license suspension |
Driver records maintained for three (3) years for private individuals, longer for commercial drivers |
| New Hampshire |
Not more than $1,000 |
3 points assesssed |
Yes, required in some instances and as possible means of reducing points |
Accrual of 12 points in twelve (12) months results in three (3) month license suspension |
Points remain on driving record for three (3) years using Jan.1 as effective start date of three year period |
| New Jersey |
No less than $50 and not more than $200 |
2 points incurred |
Yes, case pending may be required, otherwise can be used to remove 2 points from record |
Accrual of 12 points in two (2) year period requires 30 day suspension of license |
Driver history abstract available in complete form or within five (5) year period |
| New Mexico |
$10 to $200 |
3 points incurred |
Yes, may be mandated or voluntarily undergone for points reduction |
Accumulation of 7 to 10 points in one (1) year may result in three (3) month suspension, pending hearing |
|
| New York |
Not more than $100, first offense |
At least 2 points, potentially more pending offense |
Yes, potentially required in specific cases, and may be used to remove up to 4 points in some cases |
Accumulation of 11 points in eighteen (18) month period results in one (1) month license suspension |
Driving record points may be removed no later than four (4) years from offense, but potetnial to view last ten (10) years of record available |
| North Carolina |
Not more than $100 |
2 points assessed, expect rates to increase |
Yes, driver improvement clinics may be mandated, and can be used once every five (5) years for 3 point reduction |
Accumulation of more than 12 points in three (3) years makes license subject to suspension |
Driving record points counted against driver for up to three (3) years, and violations on record available for viewing up to seven (7) years |
| North Dakota |
$20 |
2 point incurred, expect rates to increase |
Yes, and driver may elect to undergo driver improvement course once annually to reduce by 2 points |
Every point accumulated above 11 points requires seven (7) day license suspension |
Violations older than three (3) years do not remain on driving record |
| Ohio |
Not more than $100 for first offense |
2 to 4 points incurred, expect rates to increase |
Yes, remedial dirving instruction may be legally required to reinstate driving priviledges |
Accumulation of more than 12 points in two (2) years makes drivers subject to six (6) month suspension |
Violtaions older than three (3) years are not included in current driving record |
| Oklahoma |
Not less than $20 not more than $500 |
1 point assessed |
Yes, potentially mandated, but also can be used to reduce 2 points |
Accumulation of more than 10 points subjects driver to license suspension of one (1) month |
Offenses in last three (3) years are recorded on driving records |
| Oregon |
Not more than $75 |
No point system |
Yes, if mandated, but not possible to reduce offense total |
Conviction of four (4) offenses in eighteen (18) month period requires hearing with driver improvement interview |
Offenses and convictions for traffic violations remain on record more than five (5) years |
| Pennsylvania |
Over $25 |
2 to 3 points assessed, expect increases |
Yes, if mandated as sanction, but not means of reducing violation or dismissing points |
Accumulation of more than 6 points requires examination, accumulation of 6 more points requires hearing of potential suspension |
Violations remain on record for three (3) years, and for employment checks only, ten (10) year records can be obtained |
| Rhode Island |
$50 fine |
No point system |
Yes, if mandated by licensing authority |
Incurring three or more major violations in three year period results in one to five year suspension of license |
Records of violations and offenses kept for three (3) years |
| South Carolina |
Not more than $200 for first offense |
2 points assessed, insurance rates expected to slightly increase |
Yes, potentially mandated and means of removing 4 points |
Accumulation of 12 points in twelve months results in suspension, points older than one (1) year counted at half value |
Driving records are available in three (3) and ten (10) year increments |
| South Dakota |
Not more than $200 for first offense |
2 points assessed, expect negligible rate increases |
No |
Accumulating 15 more points in one (1) year, or 22 points in two (2) year period results in suspension of 60 days |
Driving records of offenses and violations maintained indefintitely, points remain on record for three (3) years |
| Tennessee |
Not more than $50 |
3 points assessed, expect insurance premiums increase |
Yes, may be mandated, and drivers may reduce points through course once every five (5) years |
Accumulation of more than 12 points in one (1) year period results in license suspension |
Driving records maintained for three (3) years |
| Texas |
$1 to $200 per state statutes |
2 points assessed |
Yes, potentially required, and may be used to dismiss violation |
Incurring four (4) or more violations in one (1) year runs risk of suspension |
Driving record offenses and violations remain on record for no more than five (5) years |
| Utah |
Officer and court authority discretion |
40 points assessed |
Yes, possibly court mandated, and if necessary, can be used once every three (3) years to remove 50 points |
Accumulating more than 200 points on license, if over 21 years old, in three (3) year period results in mandatory suspension of three (3) months |
Moving violations remain on driving record for three (3) years |
| Vermont |
Not more than $175 for first offense |
2 to 3 points assessed on record |
Yes, possibly required as part of license reinstatement |
Incuring 10 or more points in two (2) year period results in license suspension |
Violations remain on record for no more than three (3) years |
| Virginia |
Not more than $200 |
3 point violation assessed |
Yes, driver improvement clinic may be required, and possibly used to offset 5 demerit points |
Accumulating more than 18 points in one (1) year, or more than 24 points in two (2) years results in license suspension |
Moving violations remain on driving record for three (3) years and speeding violations remain on record for five (5) years in state |
| Washington |
Not more than $250 |
State does not adhere to point system |
Yes, potentially required by court authority |
Accruing four (4) offenses in one (1) year or five (5) offenses in two (2) years leaves potential for authority to suspend license as desired |
Moving violations and accidents remain on driving record for five (5) years |
| West Virginia |
Not more than $100 |
3 point violation assessed |
Yes, drivers may be legally bound to attend, and attendance may reduce points as well |
Accumulating more than 12 points results in license suspension for no more than one (1) year at discretion of authority |
|
| Wisconsin |
$40 to $300 for first offense, fine double for second offense |
3 points incurred |
Yes, sometimes required, but voluntarily taken can reduce points by 3 every five (5) years |
Incurring 12 or more points in one (1) year makes driver subject to suspension at discretion of authority |
Violations, suspensions, and revocations remain on record for five (5) years from date of conviction |
| Wyoming |
No more than $200 |
State does not adhere to point system |
No |
Conviction of four (4) violations in one (1) year period results in 90 day suspension |
Violations remain on driver's record for no more than three (3) years |
