The Florida point system is a crucial aspect of the state’s driving laws. Designed to penalize repeat offenders and encourage safe driving, understanding how this system works can help you avoid unnecessary penalties and keep your driving record clean.
What is the Florida Point System?
The Florida point system assigns points to your driving record for various traffic violations. Accumulating too many points within a specific period can lead to fines, increased insurance rates, and even suspension of your driving privileges.
How the Point System in Florida Works
Under the point system Florida:
- 1 to 15 points in 12 months can result in a 30-day suspension.
- 16 to 24 points in 24 months can result in a 3-month suspension.
- 25 points or more in 36 months can result in a 1-year suspension.
Common Violations and Their Points
- Speeding: 3 to 6 points depending on the severity.
- Running a Red Light: 4 points.
- Reckless Driving: 4 points.
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident: 6 points.
- Passing a Stopped School Bus: 4 points.
Tips to Avoid Points on Your Record
- Drive Defensively: Always be aware of your surroundings and anticipate other drivers’ actions.
- Follow Traffic Laws: Adhere to speed limits, signal appropriately, and obey traffic signals.
- Attend Traffic School: In some cases, attending a defensive driving course can remove points from your record.
- Stay Informed: Keep up with Florida traffic laws to ensure compliance.
The Impact of Points on Your Driving Record
Accumulating points can lead to several negative consequences:
- Increased Insurance Rates: Insurance companies may raise your premiums if you have multiple points.
- License Suspension: Reaching the point thresholds can result in the suspension of your driving privileges.
- Financial Penalties: Fines and fees associated with traffic violations can add up quickly.
Understanding the impact of the florida driving point system is crucial for maintaining a clean record and avoiding these penalties.
The Graduated Point System in Florida
For each activity in Florida, there is a designated point value; listed below is the full list. Drivers in Florida, for instance, face a three-point penalty for texting while behind the wheel since the state views texting as a kind of distracted driving. Leaving the scene of an automobile accident results in a harsher six-point penalty.
Serious consequences, including fines, license suspensions, and even jail time, become more possible the more points a driver accumulates.
Summary of Offenses for Various Traffic Violations
Various driving infractions in Florida can result in a variety of points. The following is a rundown of typical infractions, along with the Florida’s Driver License Point System that are awarded for each one.
- Driving under the influence: 12 points
- Reckless driving: 4 points
- Crash while speeding: 6 points
- Moving violation harms others: 6 points
- Crash, unattended vehicle with car damage: 6 points
- Careless driving: 3 points
- Speeding: 3 points
- Speed over 50 mph: 4 points
- Too fast for the conditions: 3 points
- Passing on the side of a stopped bus: 4 points
- Failure to stop for a school bus: 4 points
- Failure to stop at a red light on a one-way street before a left turn: 4 points
- Failure to obey red traffic light: 4 points
- Failure to yield to a pedestrian who has the right-of-way: 3 points
- Failure to obey traffic signs: 3 points
- No child restraint: 3 points
Point-Based Penalties and Fines
In Florida, the mechanism for suspending points is straightforward. To illustrate the point system in action, suppose you accrued 12 points due to two accidents caused by speeding in the previous year. Your license will be suspended for 30 days as a result.
In addition, when points are added to your license, you should expect to pay a fine. Penalties are graded according to seriousness. A first-offense fine for drunk driving, for instance, might reach $1,000, although the average charge for a traffic violation is only $60. The actual expenses of these violations can be far higher if you have to pay to get your license reinstated or to pay court fees.
How to Remove Points in Florida
Taking a driving safety course can help you avoid penalties and lower your insurance rates in Florida, as it does in most states around the country. Prior to enrolling in the course, you must also pay the election fee to the court clerk.
The Advanced Driver Improvement Course is an eight-hour requirement if your point total is twelve or more. These expanded classes offer protection to those who would otherwise face a license suspension for a specific period of time. The typical four-hour Basic Driver Improvement Course is enough for most first-time, non-serious violations.
Enroll in a school that has received state approval to avoid losing points. Both of these Florida traffic school courses are available from reputable providers like I Drive Safely, and they can help you get your license points reduced.
We can assist you in having any recent traffic violations, accidents, or reckless driving charges removed from your record. If you want to know how to fix your driving record, our state-approved school can show you the ropes.
Get on the road safer with one of our Florida Driving Improvement Courses, available in four or eight hours.
Conclusion
By understanding the Florida point system and taking proactive measures, you can maintain a clean driving record and avoid the repercussions of accumulating too many points. Stay informed, drive safely, and consider enrolling in defensive driving courses to mitigate the impact of any traffic violations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long do points stay on my Florida driving record?
Points remain on your driving record for 36 months (3 years) from the date of the violation. During this period, these points can affect your driving privileges and insurance rates.
Can I get points removed from my record?
Yes, attending an approved traffic school can help remove points from your record. However, this option is available only once every 12 months and can be used a maximum of five times in a lifetime. Completing a traffic school course not only helps in point reduction but also can prevent your insurance rates from increasing due to traffic violations.
What happens if I accumulate too many points?
Accumulating too many points can lead to severe consequences, including:
- Suspension of your driving license: The length of the suspension depends on the number of points accumulated within a specific timeframe.
- 12 points within 12 months: 30-day suspension.
- 18 points within 18 months: 3-month suspension.
- 24 points within 36 months: 1-year suspension.
- Increased insurance rates: Insurance companies may raise your premiums as a result of the points on your record.
- Additional fines: You may incur additional fines depending on the violations that led to the accumulation of points.
How can I check my current points?
You can check your driving record and current points through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) website. This service allows you to view your complete driving history and monitor any points or violations on your record. It is crucial to regularly check your driving record to stay informed about your points and ensure you take necessary actions to avoid penalties.
