Connecticut DMV Points
If you are pulled over for a moving violation or traffic ticket in Fairfield County, Connecticut, not only might you have to pay a fine and spend a day in court, but points might also be assessed against your driver’s license and your driving history, causing a ripple effect of annoyance, cost and inconvenience to you and your family. Connecticut’s Department of Motor Vehicles (the infamous “DMV”) may issue points when a driver is convicted of a traffic violation. As some of the best Greenwich and Stamford speeding ticket lawyers and attorneys would agree, the penalties for DMV points can be severe in certain cases. Your insurance rates can skyrocket and, if you accumulate too many points, your driver’s license will be suspended.
As a result, it is critical to consider fighting speeding tickets and traffic tickets so you can avoid convictions for traffic violations which will ultimately prevent the DMV from assessing points against your driver’s license. To save yourself from DMV points, you should hire a top Connecticut speeding ticket lawyer, who will fight your charges in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, Wilton, Westport, Fairfield, Norwalk, New Canaan, and anywhere else in Connecticut
How Does the Connecticut DMV Calculate Points for Traffic Violations?
Before Connecticut DMV points can be calculated or assessed on your driving record, you first have to be convicted (not just charged or ticketed) of a motor vehicle crime. Connecticut police officers and state troopers can charge you with a variety of offenses that can carry DMV points as a penalty, including Speeding (CGS 14-219), Failure to Obey a Stop Sign (CGS 14-201), Failure to Obey Traffic Control Signal Light (Running Red Lights / CGS 14-299), Running a School Bus Stop Sign (CGS 14-279), Operating at an Unreasonable Rate of Speed (CGS 14-218), Failure to Signal (CGS 14-242), and many more. The traffic attorneys and lawyers at Mark Sherman Law are well-educated in each of these charges and have years of experience in helping clients fight these traffic tickets to avoid the repercussions of DMV points on their driving records. What first happens is you get pulled over and the police officer issues a traffic violation citation. Our first recommendation is to hire a top Stamford Connecticut traffic attorney to fight the ticket. It is important to remember that DMV points are not assessed against your license until you are convicted of the charged offense. To be convicted, a court must find you guilty of the offense or you must admit guilt by pleading guilty by mail, pleading guilty by internet, or pleading guilty in court. However, prior to pleading guilty to any offense, you should contact an experienced Connecticut DMV and traffic ticket lawyer who can assist you by advocating for the dismissal of your charges or negotiating with the prosecutor to enable you to plead to a lesser fine and offense and possibly avoid points on your license.
By pleading guilty, you’re now convicted of a traffic offense. Your traffic violation conviction is then reported to the DMV, which will administer points against your driver’s license. The number of points ranges from 1 to 5, depending on the severity of the traffic offense. For a full list of charges and their respective point values, see the DMV point system chart below.
Sec. 14-218a | Operating at unreasonable rate of speed | |
Sec. 14-219 | Speeding | |
Sec. 14-230 | Failure to drive in right-hand lane | |
Sec. 14-230a | Illegal use of limited access highway by bus, commercial vehicle or vehicle with trailer | |
Sec. 14-236 | Improper operation on multiple-lane highways | |
Sec. 14-237 | Improper operation on divided highway | |
Sec. 14-239 | Wrong direction at rotary or one-way street | |
Sec. 14-242 | Improper turn, illegal turn, illegal stopping, failure to signal intention to turn | |
Sec. 14-243 | Improper backing or starting | |
Sec. 14-244 | Failure to give proper signal | |
Sec. 14-277 | Operator’s duties on stopping a school bus | |
Sec. 14-289b | Operation of motorcycles abreast, illegal passing | |
Sec. 14-303 | Wrong way on one-way street | |
Sec. 14-220 | Slow speed, impeding traffic | |
Sec. 14-223 (a) | Disobeying orders of officer | |
Sec. 14-238 | Entering or leaving controlled access highway at other than designated entrance or exit | |
Sec. 14-238a | Entry upon a limited access highway other than a highway intersection or designated point | |
Sec. 14-241 | Executing turn from wrong lane or contrary to traffic control devices | |
Sec. 14-249 | Failure to obey signal at railroad crossing | |
Sec. 14-250 | Failure to stop at railroad crossing by school bus, commercial motor vehicle carrying flammable or explosive substance, taxicab, motor vehicle in livery service, motor bus, motor vehicle used for the transportation of school children | |
Sec. 14-298 | Failure to observe parkway or expressway restrictions | |
Sec. 14-299 | Failure to obey traffic control signal light | |
Sec. 14-301 | Failure to obey stop sign | |
Sec. 14-302 | Failure to obey yield sign | |
Sec. 14-304 | Operating a vehicle through pedestrian safety zone | |
Sec. 14-227a (b) | Driving while impaired | |
Sec. 14-231 | Failure to keep to right when meeting opposing traffic | |
Sec. 14-232 | Improper passing or failure to yield to passing vehicle | |
Sec. 14-233 | Passing on right | |
Sec. 14-234 | Passing in no passing zone | |
Sec. 14-235 | Failure to keep to right on curve, grade or when approaching intersection | |
Sec. 14-240 | Failure to drive reasonable distance apart | |
Sec. 14-245 | Failure to grant right of way at intersection | |
Sec. 14-246a | Failure to grant right of way at junction of highways | |
Sec. 14-247 | Failure to yield when emerging from driveway or private road | |
Sec. 14-247a | Failure to grant right of way when emerging from alley, driveway or building | |
Sec. 14-283 | Failure to grant right of way to ambulance, police or fire apparatus | |
Sec. 14-300 | Failure to grant right of way to pedestrian | |
Sec. 14-224 (c) | Wagering, speed record | |
Sec. 14-240a | Failure to drive reasonable distance apart, intent to harass | |
Sec. 14-279 | Passing stopped school bus | |
Sec. 14-281a | Operation of school bus at excessive speed | |
Sec. 14-222a | Negligent homicide with a motor vehicle |
How Long Do Connecticut DMV Points Stay on My Driving Record?
Points remain on your driving record for twenty-four (24) months from the date they are assessed.
What Are the Consequences of Connecticut DMV Points?
Points on your driver’s license can result in two major consequences for Connecticut drivers. First, points can negatively affect your insurance premiums. Second, if you accumulate too many points, then your Connecticut driver’s license can be suspended.
Can the DMV Suspend My Connecticut Driver’s License If I Have Too Many Points?
Absolutely. If you are convicted of traffic violations and enough points are assessed, then you might actually lose your license. If you have 6 points on your driving record at any point in time (remember points disappear after two years’ time), then you’ll get a warning letter from the DMV and be required to complete a driver retraining program. If you get 10 or more points, then your license will be suspended for 30 days. Once your license is suspended for 30 days, acquiring another 10 points against your license within a 5-year window will trigger a suspension of up to 2 years.
For these reasons, if you already have points on your license and receive a ticket for another violation, then you should consider hiring a top Stamford speeding ticket lawyer to help you not lose your ability to drive. Remember, DMV points remain on your driving record for 2 years – even if your previous traffic violation was more than a year ago. You might still risk losing your license, which should give you all the more reason to consider fighting your traffic ticket charges.
How Will Points Affect My Auto Insurance Policy and Rates?
Your insurance carrier will be notified if points are assessed and recorded onto your driver’s history. When it becomes time to renew your auto insurance policy, your carrier will review any accidents, claims, and traffic violation convictions. Your insurance rates or premiums could then increase, costing you more money each month. And for an egregiously high number of DMV points, you can actually be dropped and canceled by your auto insurance carrier.
Fighting Your Stamford & Greenwich Traffic Ticket Charges
If you are charged with a traffic violation of any type, then you might wonder if it’s cost-effective to fight the ticket. In other words, is it worth the money to pay a top speeding ticket lawyer or traffic attorney in Stamford, Greenwich or elsewhere to fight your ticket. Wouldn’t it be easier to just pay the ticket? The best speeding ticket lawyers and attorneys in Stamford, Greenwich and other Connecticut towns would agree that it’s definitely worth a phone call to discuss your options. While admitting any violation might make your charge “go away” temporarily, it might actually have lasting consequences, such as increased insurance premiums or a suspended license. Whether it’s your first offense or you have been through this process before, you should take the charge seriously to avoid the assessment of DMV points and prevent insurance or suspension consequences.
No Points! Fighting Your Norwalk, New Canaan, Stamford and Greenwich Traffic Tickets
The DMV and traffic ticket lawyers of Mark Sherman Law have a proven track record of success with traffic violation cases. It’s our goal to get your charges either dismissed or negotiated down so that DMV points are not assessed against your license. We are well-versed in Connecticut motor vehicle laws, DMV regulations, and the handbooks and training manuals used by Connecticut police and state troopers. Our “two-attorney” review system ensures that at least two of our attorneys will analyze and scrutinize the police reports involved in your motor vehicle case. If you’re unsure of whether it’s worth fighting your ticket, give us a call – we will listen to your case and advise you either way. We have built our firm’s reputation by providing an honest and cost-effective service, so we will not hesitate to turn down your case if we know that we cannot help you. Depending on the jurisdiction and the specific violations charged against you, we might even be able to handle your ticket without you having to come to court.
Contact the No Points! Traffic Attorneys at Mark Sherman Law Today
So if you have been pulled over and issued a ticket for any traffic violation in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, Westport, Fairfield, Norwalk, New Canaan, or any of our neighboring towns, call a traffic and speeding ticket attorney at Mark Sherman Law today to learn how we can help you. Our goal is simple and focused: No Points! We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at (203) 358-4700. Our flat traffic ticket fees are competitive, and if we do not believe it would be cost-effective for you to hire us to fight your ticket, we will not take your case. Call us today to learn how we can try to get your Connecticut traffic ticket ripped up faster than you can say “License and Registration please.”