If you want to
maintain your driving privileges in Florida state, you should know
how the points system works. This helps you keep a clean driving
record. It’s also important to know how to remove points from a
driving license in Florida. There are options if you do get points.
The Department of
Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in Florida is responsible for
tracking point violations on your Florida driving record.
How the Florida Point System Works
Most common traffic
violations in Florida law are assigned a number value that are
recorded as points. Those points are given to keep track of
infractions. If you get a set amount of infractions within a set
amount of time, you can lose some to all of your driving privileges.
How many points you
get for an infraction of Florida law depends on the infraction
itself, and the length of suspension depends on the number of points.
Getting 12 points within 12 months leads to a 30 day suspension, 18
points within 18 months is a 3 month suspension, and 24 points within
36 months is a year-long suspension.
Common Florida Point Infractions
The most common
infractions that lead to points against your license in Florida are:
- Speeding
- Up to 15 MPH over the limit = 3 points
- Over 15 MPH above the limit = 4 points
- Speeding resulting in an accident = 6 points
- Driving with an open alcohol container = 3 points
- Child safety restraint violations = 3 points
- Littering = 3 points
- Fleeing from the scene of an accident with property damage over $50 = 6 points
- Reckless driving = 4 points
- Collision caused by a moving violation = 4 points
- Passing a stopped school bus = 4 points
How long those
points remain on your record depends on the severity of the
infraction. They will generally stay on your record for 3 – 5
years. The most serious infractions can remain on your record for ten
years or more. If you don’t want to wait that long to clear them
up, then one way you can reduce your number of points is through
traffic school and defensive driving courses.
Florida Traffic School
Certain traffic
violations may require you to attend a state-approved drive
improvement course. This course may lead to the points being taken
off of your license. The kind of traffic school course you have to
take depends on the offense in question. The categories of driver
improvement courses for Florida are:
- Basic driver improvement classes
- For most infractions, including;
- Reckless driving
- Passing a stopped school bus
- Speed violations
- Collisions where you are the one at fault
- 3-in-3 driver change course
- This is required if you commit 3 violations that cause a crash within 36 months
- This includes behind-the-wheel training and an assessment to complete the course
- Advanced driver improvement
- For non-DUI offenses
Please note that
while these defensive
driving courses can help you get points taken off of your
license, you may need to a separate program if you have a violation
related to getting a DUI. There are also restrictions on traffic
school programs. You can only attend them five times in your life
time, and only one time every 12 months. If you hold a commercial
driver’s license, then you are not eligible to remove points
through a driver improvement course and must wait for the points to
expire over time.
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