Receiving a traffic ticket might initially seem like a nuisance, but it can be much more than that if you are not careful to retain a traffic ticket attorney. Knowing your California driving record can help you figure out whether or not you’re in danger of a serious violation or problem going down the road. Once you accumulate so many violations on your driving record, the consequences can be serious. Depending on the kind of driving record and where you ultimately purchase it, a complete or partial outline may be provided of your California driving history, including:
- DUI reports
- Previous traffic violations
- When and where your driver’s license was issued
- Car accidents
- Revocations or suspensions of your driver’s license.
What Does It Mean to Say That There Are Points on My California Driving Record?
Any driving infractions that you have committed inside or outside of California will be included on your California Department of Motor Vehicles driving record. Every infraction is assigned a point value and when these achieve a certain level, your license is automatically suspended or revoked. Some of the most common infractions linked to points on your driving record include:
- 2 points for hit and run injury or property damage
- 2 points for driving while your license is revoked or suspended
- 2 points for refusing a DUI test
- 2 points for reckless driving or evading an officer
- 1 point for violating license restrictions
- 1 point for crossing safety cones or flares
- 1 point for disregarding a crossing guard who is not a student
- 1 point for disobedience to a traffic officer
If you identify that there are incorrect points in your California driving record, you can fix them by contacting your local DMV office. Furthermore, participating in a traffic school program can also help to eliminate points off your record, but this is not always available depending on the infraction.
How Do the Points Stack Up on My California Driving License?
Your driver’s license could be revoked or suspended for accumulating too many points over a certain time period. These include:
- 8 points over 36 months
- 6 points in 24 months
- 4 points in 12 months
Your insurance rates can also increase particularly if you committed any points violations that were also connected to car crashes. If you intend to apply for a job as a commercial vehicle driver, bear in mind that your California driving record may cause the employer to turn your application down.
- Can I Get Points Taken Off My California Driving Record?
The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles adds points to your California driver’s license record when you commit a major driving violation or receive a traffic citation. Points cannot be removed after they are listed on your driver’s history report. Certain drivers may be eligible to attend traffic school to avoid points from being added to their license. You’ll be notified by mail or at the time of your conviction in court.
How Long Will Points Stay on My Driving Record in California?
The individual driver history can be cleared of points depending on the type of violation initially assessed. A failure to appear in court for a DUI for example, stays on your record for 13 years, whereas a traffic violation that accumulated 1 point is removed after 39 months. Any hit and run or DUI points take 13 years to come off your records and a failure to appear in court will stay on your record for 5 years. Different penalties are associated with different infractions and violations. DUI criminal records are also included on the California Department of Motor Vehicles driving history report. You will need to provide a DUI arrest record to attend traffic school or to verify that an older problem has now been taken off your record.
Getting an official copy of your DMV driving record is the only way to figure out what infractions have been added to your record and whether or not there are any mistakes. You can look for any previous traffic violation on your traffic history; running red lights, not using a turn signal, and speeding will be included on this report. You might use this to identify any traffic tickets that have not yet been paid. If you suspect that you already have a problem on your California driving record that could increase your insurance rates or make it more problematic if you’re pulled over for another infraction, you should take your case seriously by hiring a California traffic ticket attorney immediately. Call 1-800-CITATION for a free consultation.
