How Many Points is a Speeding Ticket?
Most places in the United States use systems that assign a certain number of points to a driver’s record with each violation. Some speeding tickets come with more points than others. There are some pretty serious consequences for exceeding a certain number of points on your record.
Table of Contents
Speeding Ticket Points
The states that do not use the point system include Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. If you have recently received a speeding ticket, it is important that you learn about these points and how they affect your record.
Check Your State’s Laws
The first thing that you’ll want to do after getting a speeding ticket is to check your state’s laws by going online. You will most likely be able to find out how many points you will get for a speeding ticket where you live. This information is usually available on the state’s department of motor vehicle website.
It typically varies depending on the speed you were traveling. For instance, going five to ten miles per hour over the limit might only be two points, while going 15 miles per hour over could be three points. These points can stay on your record for one to ten years, depending on the state.
Most states in the U.S. assign anywhere from two to four points for speeding. Going ten miles per hour over the posted speed limited is usually two points at the very least. Keep in mind that there are some states that are harsher than others when it comes to this.
Consequences for Accumulating Points
There are various consequences for having a certain amount of points on your license, but it depends on the state. Once you get to a certain number of points, you could get your license temporarily suspended. If this happens, you usually have to wait at least a full year before you can apply to get it back. In some cases, the state might take away your license permanents.
A majority of states will only consider suspending your license if you have accumulated a certain number of points within a specific time period. For example, it takes getting 12 points on your license within 2 years in Alabama. If you accumulate that many points within that period of time, the state can take some sort of action against your license.
Some states will be able to suspend or revoke your license if you get a certain number of points regardless of the time period. This is certainly worth considering if you have a lot of tickets stacked up on your record.
Removing Points from Your License
There are some states that will allow you to have points on your license removed if you meet specific criteria. You typically need to complete a driver safety course and have maintained a clean driving record for a certain amount of time. The specifics vary from state to state, so it is a good idea to check your laws.
It might also be a good idea to look into hiring an attorney. This can sometimes increase your chances of getting points off your license, but not always. Look for an attorney who specializes in these types of cases. There is a chance that you could use one of these professionals to help you get at least some points taken off your record fairly quickly.
Effects on Your Car Insurance
These days a lot of insurance companies will raise a member’s monthly rate if they accumulate new points on their driving record due to a traffic citation. If you have recently received a speeding ticket, this is something you should look into. The best thing you can do is to call your insurance company to see what the consequences will be.
Depending on the number of points associated with your speeding ticket, you might be looking at a small or large increase in your rate. This is one of the reasons why it is so important that you try to avoid getting points in the first place. A seemingly simple speeding ticket can cause you to pay hundreds of dollars extra on your insurance in a single year.
In fact, your insurance company can decide to cancel your policy or refuse to renew it due to the accumulation of too many points. Even one speeding ticket can cause this if you already have a lot of points on your license. This is just one of the reasons why you should make a point of checking with your insurer after getting this type of ticket.
How to Avoid Getting Points on a Speeding Ticket
It’s always best to avoid getting points on your license in the first place so you won’t have to deal with raised insurance rates and other potential issues. You may be able to do this by taking your ticket to court instead of just admitting guilt.
Whenever you receive a traffic citation from an officer, you will have two options. You can plead guilty to the ticket and accept the fine, or you can take it to court. Going to court often results in having to pay the fine (even an increased amount), but without any points.
While going to court for a ticket can be a major hassle, it is definitely better than getting points on your license. This is something that you need to consider before deciding what to do. It might be tempting just to admit guilt and pay the fine, but it’s probably not in your best interest. But don’t think about not paying your fine, because consequences might be difficult to handle (see here).
You can try hiring a lawyer to fight your ticket in court so you don’t get any points or pay a fine. It is fairly uncommon to be in a situation where you don’t have to face either of these consequences though. If you are planning to challenge your ticket in court, make sure you find a good lawyer who specializes in traffic violations. This will give you the best chances of getting a favorable outcome in court.
Out of State Points
If you get a speeding ticket in a state outside of the one you live in, the points will most likely still affect your insurance and driving record. This is because states tend to share this type of information with each other.
There are certain states that only share information on tickets where the person was going at least 20 miles per hour over the posted limit. The state is ultimately responsible for determining whether or not to put points on your license. If you’re curious about speeding laws in California, read this: https://www.ratedradardetector.org/ticket/speeding/california/.
How do I see the number of Points I Have?
You will be able to see how many points you have on your driving record by requesting a copy of it through the state. Depending on where you live, you might be able to take a look at your record online without any hassle at all.
Other states will require you to go down to your local department of motor vehicles and pay a fee. This is a fairly easy process either way, but some states make it easier than others.
It is a good idea to take a look at your driving record after you have gotten a speeding ticket. This way you will be able to see the points you have in total. The cost of speeding tickets also vary per state.
Since these points can affect you in so many different ways, this information is very valuable. If you see that you already have quite a few points, you’ll want to do everything you can to avoid them with your most recent ticket.
Make sure that you keep checking back with your driving record every couple of years to see if the points are being removed as they should.
How Long Does it Take for Points to be Removed?
Each state in the U.S. has different laws about how long points from speeding tickets and other infractions stay on a person’s driving record. In Michigan, points stay on a driving record for two years. You will find that some states are more lax about this while others can be quite harsh.
As points on your driving record disappear, you should see a significant decrease in your car insurance rate. This will also mean that you won’t be in such danger of losing your license or having it suspended. If you don’t want to wait for your points to disappear, you should consider taking action to get them removed.
Final Thoughts
Whether you get one point or three points on your license from a speeding ticket, it is always significant. This is because having too many points can mean some big problems for you. It could be an increase with your insurance premium or having your license suspended, but it’s something you should always take seriously.
If you look at your driving record and find that you have a lot of points, you should try to get some taken off. There are numerous methods that you can use, but it’s crucial that you at least make an effort.
To learn how to get out of speeding tickets, read our guide here: https://www.ratedradardetector.org/ticket/speeding/how-to-get-out-of/.
William Johnson is the owner and founder of RatedRadarDetector.org. He writes about car accessories, with his passion stemming from a deep enthusiasm for all things automotive. His website, RRD, focuses on in-depth reviews of car accessories to help people find the best and latest products in the market.