How Many Driving Points Result in License Suspension?

Points & License Suspensions

When it comes to driving points, less is more. In other words, the fewer points you have on your driving record, the better off you’ll be. This is because driving points are penalties, therefore, if you commit a traffic violation or traffic crime, points will be added to your driving record. Common driving-related offenses and point penalties in Florida include:

• Reckless Driving: 4 points
• Hit-and-Run: 6 points
• Careless Driving: 3 points
• Speeding: 3 points
• Too Fast for Conditions: 3 points
• Passing on Enter/Exit Side While Bus is Stopped: 4 points
• Failing to Yield: 3 points
• Failing to Obey Traffic Signal: 4
• Running a Red Light: 4 points
• Improper Passing: 3 points
• Driving with Suspended License: 3 points
• Texting while Driving (Subsequent Offense within 5 Years): 3 points

How Much Is Too Much?

Driving points should not be taken lightly, even if it appears as if 3 points is no big deal. 3 points on a driving record can easily hit double-digits if you commit multiple traffic-related crimes, resulting in the temporary loss of your driving privileges. Your Florida driver’s license will get suspended if you accumulate enough points, which you can see below:

• 12 points within 12 months: 30-day license suspension
• 18 points within 18 months: 3-month license suspension
• 24 points within 36 months: 1-year license suspension

Although it can be unsettling to lose your license because points were added to your driving record, you may be eligible for a hardship license, which only allows you to drive to and from certain places such as work and school. To apply for a hardship license in Florida, you must submit proof of an Advanced Driver Improvement (ADI) school completion and pay certain fees to your local Administrative Reviews Office.

Once the suspension period ends, you may apply for license restatement by submitting proof of ADI school completion (just like with a hardship license) and paying certain fees to any Florida driver license service center.

Common Reasons for License Suspensions & Revocations

A typical cause for license suspension and revocation is accumulating too many driving points, however, other reasons may result in the suspension or revocation of your license, such as:

• Child support arrears
• Drug-related convictions
• DUI convictions
• Non-DUI related convictions resulting in death or serious bodily injury
• Habitual traffic offender (HTO) convictions: When a person accumulates 15 moving violations in which points were assessed in 5 years or 3 major violations in 5 years, they are labeled as an HTO. For reference, major offenses include:
  • Driving while license suspended or revoked
  • DUI, DWI, or other alcohol-related convictions
  • Failure to stop and render aid in the event of a motor vehicle crash
  • Driving a commercial motor vehicle while disqualified
  • Manslaughter in which a motor vehicle was involved
  • Any felony in the commission where a motor vehicle is used

If you are facing license suspension due to a DUI charge or traffic-related offense in West Palm Beach, you are better off hiring a trusted attorney to defend your case than going at it alone. As such, I welcome you to reach out to The Law Offices of Phillip T. Ridolfo, Jr. at (561) 475-2752 to learn how I can help protect your driving privileges!