Do you want to know how many speeding tickets you can get before your license is suspended? If the answer to the question is yes, the answer can vary, depending on the state you live in. Check out the information about it in several states below.
California
In California, there is a point system to determine who can drive legally. At-fault accidents and traffic offenses are usually worth 1 point, including speeding tickets under 100 mph. Aside from that, you will also have to pay around $234.00 for a speeding ticket for 1-15 mph over the limit, $380.00 for 16-25 mph over, or around $490.00 for 26 or more mph over up to 99 mph. In addition, there is a possibility for your insurance premiums to be increased. That’s why you have to make sure to think more than once before thinking of paying your fine.
If you get 4 points on your license in 12 months, 6 points in 24 months, or 8 points in 36 months, don’t get surprised if your license is suspended or revoked for about a six-month period with a concurrent 1-year probationary period, in which it is possible for you to not get a subsequent conviction or at-fault accident without extra suspension time being added. However, there is an exception, which is if you are convicted of speeding more than 100 mph.
No one is allowed to speed over 100 mph on CA highways unless they want to get special penalties, as stated on CVC 22348 (b). In this law, it is stated that you will get 2 points on your license, a fine up to $500.00 before county fees, penalties, and assessments if you speed over 100 mph for the first time. In total, the fee can be around $900.00 before your insurance company increases your premiums. In this case, your licenses can be suspended for up to 30 days if convicted.
If it is not your first time speeding over 100 mph within 36 months, you will be fined up to $750.00. Once again, remember that state and county fees, surcharges, and assessments will be added. If you do it for the third time within 60 months or 5 years, you will be charged up to $1000.00 without state and county penalties. Talking about the penalties for second and third offense, it is unknown how long your driver’s license will be suspended, as it usually depends on the judge.
North Carolina
If you receive a speeding conviction, you will get points on your driver’s license. You will get the same points if you pay a fine but you don’t go to court. It seems like most people are not aware that paying a ticket fine, speeding, and so on is the same as pleading guilty to the traffic offense charged to them.
According to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, there is a point system used in North Carolina to determine if and when to suspend your driving privileges. It is said that your driver’s license can and will probably be suspended if you accumulate 12 points within a 3-year period. After reinstating it, your license can and likely will be re-suspended by the state if you accumulate 8 points in the three years following your reinstatement. The good news is that all the points that you accumulated before will be canceled after reinstatement. It means you will start fresh.
In North Carolina, you will get 3 points if you speed over 55 miles per hour and are convicted or plead guilty. If you go faster in school zones beyond the school zone speed limit, you will get 3 points against your license. For those who are wondering how many speeding tickets you can get before your license is suspended in this state, the answer is four in any 3-year period.
Talking about suspension periods, it should be noted that it depends on whether or not it is your first one or a subsequent one. Check out how the suspension times can increase below:
- 1st suspension: 60 days
- 2nd suspension: 6 months
- 3rd and subsequent suspensions: 1 year for each
The best strategy is to always drive at or below the speed limit mentioned above.
Massachusetts
According to Massachusetts General Law Chapter 90 Section 20, your driver’s license must be suspended by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles for 30 days if you get three speeding tickets in a 12-month period. First of all, they will look at the most recent responsible finding for a speeding ticket. After that, they will look back 12 months.
A finding date for a speeding ticket happens in some cases, such as:
- A disposition date and or judgment date entered by a court on a citation for a traffic law violation. Remember that a judgment date will be 20 after the appeal of the clerk magistrate or when the payment is received. As for the case of the appeal of the judgment, the judgment date is when the judge makes the decision.
- The date when the Registry of Motor Vehicles applies for the payment of the fine assessed for a civil traffic law violation.
- The fine payment default date aside from the court hearing default date
- The conviction date of an out-of-state ticket
If you get 3 surchargeable incidents in a 24 month period, your driver’s license will be suspended by the Registry of Motor Vehicle. Just like the speeding ticket license suspension, a 24-month look back from the most recent finding will also be used by the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. It is possible for the appeal to be made in case there is an issue with the record. It is usually done to question the accuracy of the record, but there are no difficulties or Cinderella licenses available in this situation.
For anyone who gets 3 surchargeable events in 2 years, you need to finish a Driver Retraining Course within 90 days of notification from the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles. If you don’t manage to complete it, get ready for your license to be suspended at least until you complete the class. If you are wondering what will happen if your license is suspended due to not attending the class, you will have to pay a $100.00 reinstatement fee. That’s why it is important for you to take the class within 90 days of the suspension notice, as it can not only avoid having your license suspended but also avoid having to pay a reinstatement fee. Bear in mind that it is a must for you to retake the class each time you get your third surchargeable event within 2 years. There is no exception, even if you have already taken it before.
If you get 7 surchargeable events in more than 36 months, your driver’s license must be suspended by the Massachusetts RMV. Just like any other suspensions, the 3 years is a 36-month look back from the most recent ticket conviction date. Apparently, out of state incidents are included in this decision. Not only that, you will also be required a $100 reinstatement fee before your driver’s license is restored if your license is suspended for 7 surchargeable events. It is for 60 days.
Texas
Texas has a point system. This kind of system is known as the Driver Responsibility Program, which is also more known as DRP for short. It is defined as a point system that tracks the driving behavior of those in Texas. It gives the right to the Texas Department of Public Safety or DPS to access surcharges to someone based on particular traffic violations that occurred on or after September 1, 2003.
Basically, you can accumulate points on your driving record for every moving violation you commit. The points that you have accumulated could cause your driver’s license to be suspended. Actually, it is not the only one as you could also get other penalties, such as fines or even increased auto insurance rates. Every single ticket and every single point will be added to your driving record and they will remain there for three years following the conviction date.
If you get a conviction due to a traffic offense in Texas, you will get a few things, such as:
- 2 points for any moving violation
- 3 points for violations that cause a crash
If you accumulate too many moving violations within a certain time period, your driver’s license can be suspended. It is possible for your driver’s license to be suspended if you have 4 moving violations or more within 12 months, or you have 7 moving violations or more within 24 months.
Apart from that, there is also a possibility of your driver’s license being suspended automatically for more serious violations, such as:
- Violations that involve alcohol or drugs
- Underage drinking
- Crashes that involve death are related to reckless driving
- Resulting in a collision while uninsured
If one day your driver’s license is suspended because you have accumulated too many moving violations, you are suggested to contact your traffic ticket lawyer.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
