New Jersey Traffic Violation Points
Frustrated that you received a New Jersey traffic violation? Worried about points on your New Jersey driver’s license? Looking to fight/beat your traffic ticket? We have helped many satisfied clients throughout New Jersey protect their driver’s licenses. Contact our New Jersey traffic ticket lawyers at Sutnick & Sutnick Attorneys at Law by calling 201-212-4532 or by completing our online contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.
How The New Jersey License Point System Works
Every time a New Jersey driver pleads guilty or is found guilty of a moving violation, they are assessed points by the Motor Vehicle Commission. These points can result in increased insurance charges, New Jersey state surcharges and ultimately a suspension of driving privileges.
What Are New Jersey DMV Points?
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) uses a point system to keep track of unsafe driving. When you get a ticket for speeding, reckless driving or not yielding, the MVC adds points to your driving record. Each violation has a specific number of points based on its seriousness. These points stay on your record for at least two years. They can also affect your insurance rates or lead to extra fees for longer than that.
The goal of the point system is to encourage safe driving. If you get too many points, you might face higher insurance costs, extra fees or even lose your license. For example, the MVC will suspend your license if you collect 12 or more points. Some violations can also lead to immediate fees.
Understanding how points work is important because even small tickets can add up. This could impact your ability to drive and cost you money. Our experienced traffic attorneys can help you deal with the system. They can fight tickets, explore ways to reduce points and protect your driving record.
NJSA Points Schedule
In order to maintain safe driving on New Jersey roads, the Motor Vehicle Commission assigns points based on various traffic violations. Generally, any moving violation carries anywhere between two and eight points. In certain cases, nonmoving tickets can also carry points, such as using a handheld device for the 3rd time. The most serious traffic offenses carry anywhere between five and eight points. These include reckless driving (5 points), tailgating (5 points), exceeding the speed limit by over 30 mph (5 points), passing a school bus (5 points), racing on the highway (5 points) and leaving the scene of an accident with personal injury (8 points). Some of the more common tickets carrying fewer points include improper passing (4 points), careless driving (2 points), disregarding a traffic control device (2 points), failure to yield to a pedestrian (2 points) and failure to maintain lane (2 points).
When a driver accumulates 12 or more points, their license in the state of New Jersey will be suspended. In most cases, a New Jersey traffic attorney can reduce or eliminate the motor vehicle points from the original tickets.
| NJSA Section |
Offense | Points |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway | ||
| 27:23-29 | Moving against traffic | 2 |
| 27:23-29 | Improper passing | 4 |
| 27:23-29 | Unlawful use of median strip | 2 |
| All Roads and Highways | ||
| 39:3-20 | Operating constructor vehicle in excess of 45 mph | 3 |
| 39:4-14.3 | Operating motorized bicycle on a restricted highway | 2 |
| 39:4-14.3d | More than one person on a motorized bicycle | 2 |
| 39:4-35 | Failure to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk | 2 |
| 39:4-36 | Failure to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk; passing a vehicle yielding to pedestrian in crosswalk | 2 |
| 39:4- 41 | Driving through safety zone | 2 |
| 39:4-52 | Racing on highway | 5 |
| 39:4-55 | Improper action or omission on grades and curves | 2 |
| 39:4-57 | Failure to observe direction of officer | 2 |
| 39:4-66 | Failure to stop vehicle before crossing sidewalk | 2 |
| 39:4-66.1 | Failure to yield to pedestrians or vehicles while entering or leaving highway | 2 |
| 39:4-66.2 | Driving on public or private property to avoid a traffic sign or signal | 2 |
| 39:4-71 | Operating a motor vehicle on a sidewalk | 2 |
| 39:4-80 | Failure to obey direction of officer | 2 |
| 39:4-81 | Failure to observe traffic signals* (Red Light Camera- 0 pts.) | 2 |
| *No points assessed for red light camera violation | 0 | |
| 39:4-82 | Failure to keep right | 2 |
| 39:4-82.1 | Improper operating of vehicle on divided highway or divider | 2 |
| 39:4-83 | Failure to keep right at intersection | 2 |
| 39:4-84 | Failure to pass to right of vehicle proceeding in opposite direction | 5 |
| 39:4-85 | Improper passing on right or off roadway | 4 |
| 39:4-85.1 | Wrong way on a one-way street | 2 |
| 39:4-86 | Improper passing in no passing zone | 4 |
| 39:4-87 | Failure to yield to overtaking vehicle | 2 |
| 39:4-88 | Failure to observe traffic lanes | 2 |
| 39:4-89 | Tailgating | 5 |
| 39:4-90 | Failure to yield at intersection | 2 |
| 39:4-90.1 | Failure to use proper entrances to limited access highways | 2 |
| 39:4-91-92 | Failure to yield to emergency vehicles | 2 |
| 39:4-96 | Reckless driving | 5 |
| 39:4-97 | Careless driving | 2 |
| 39:4-97a | Destruction of agricultural or recreational property | 2 |
| 39:4-97.1 | Slow speed blocking traffic | 2 |
| 39:4-97.2 | Driving in an unsafe manner (points only for third or subsequent offense within five years of most recent 39:4-97.2 conviction) | 4 |
| 39:4-98 | Exceeding maximum speed 1-14 mph over limit | 2 |
| Exceeding maximum speed 15-29 mph over limit | 4 | |
| Exceeding maximum speed 30 mph or more over limit | 5 | |
| 39:4-105 | Failure to stop for traffic light | 2 |
| 39:4-115 | Improper turn at traffic light | 3 |
| 39:4-119 | Failure to stop at flashing red signal | 2 |
| 39:4-122 | Failure to stop for police whistle | 2 |
| 39:4-123 | Improper right or left turn | 3 |
| 39:4-124 | Improper turn from approved turning course | 3 |
| 39:4-125 | Improper U-turn | 3 |
| 39:4-126 | Failure to give proper signal | 2 |
| 39:4-127 | Improper backing or turning in street | 2 |
| 39:4-127.1 | Improper crossing of railroad grade crossing | 2 |
| 39:4-127.2 | Improper crossing of bridge | 2 |
| 39:4-128 | Improper crossing of railroad grade crossing by certain vehicles | 2 |
| 39:4-128.1 | Improper passing of school bus | 5 |
| 39:4-128.4 | Improper passing of frozen dessert truck | 4 |
| 39:4-129 | Leaving the scene of an accident — no personal injury | 2 |
| Personal injury | 8 | |
| 39:4-144 | Failure to observe stop or yield signs | 2 |
| 39:5C-1 | Racing on highway | 5 |
| 39:5D-4 | Moving violation committed out of state | 2 |
New Jersey Points On License
Navigating the complexities of the New Jersey points system can be daunting, but understanding how points affect your driver’s license is crucial for every New Jersey driver. As a top-rated criminal defense law firm in New Jersey, our certified trial lawyers defend clients against traffic violations that result in points on their license. Accumulating points can lead to increased insurance rates and even license suspension, making it essential to address these issues promptly. Our experienced attorneys are well-versed in the intricacies of the New Jersey points system and are dedicated to helping you reduce or eliminate points through strategic legal defense and guidance. Whether you’ve been cited for speeding or other traffic violations, we are here to protect your driving privileges and offer solutions tailored to your specific situation.
When facing points on your New Jersey license, proactive legal defense can make a significant difference in the outcome. Our New Jersey-based traffic violation attorneys are committed to providing comprehensive support to minimize the impact of points on your driving record. We work closely with clients to explore options such as contesting the citation, attending a defensive driving course for point reduction or negotiating for lesser penalties. Understanding the long-term consequences of points is vital, and our law firm is dedicated to safeguarding your driving rights while reducing potential financial burdens. With our knowledge and personalized approach, we aim to help you navigate the New Jersey points system with confidence, ensuring that you maintain a clean driving record and peace of mind.
New Jersey Defensive Driving Course For Point Reduction
New Jersey offers a defensive driving course to help drivers remove points from their license. It can also lower your insurance costs. The New Jersey MVC approves these courses, which you can take online or in person. They usually take six hours to complete.
When you finish the course, you can remove up to two points from your record. However, you can only do this if you haven’t taken the course for point reduction in the last five years. Plus, many insurance companies offer a discount, sometimes up to 10%, if you complete the course.
The course teaches safe driving tips, traffic laws and ways to avoid accidents. It’s not just helpful for reducing points; it also helps you become a better driver. After finishing, you need to send your completion certificate to the MVC to get the point reduction.
Our attorneys can help you choose an approved course and ensure all your paperwork is correct. A defensive driving course is a smart way to reduce points and keep your driving privileges safe.