Point System for Traffic Citations in Florida
A conviction for many civil and criminal traffic citations in Florida will put points on your driver's license. Avoiding the conviction means avoiding the points. In many cases, the court can agree to "withhold adjudication" so that the points will not be assessed by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV).
It is important to avoid the points because if you accumulate a certain number of points within a certain time period then your driver's license will be suspended. Points are also important because they can lead to a dramatic increase in your insurance premiums for years to come.
If you received a traffic citation, either civil or criminal in nature, then contact an experienced traffic ticket attorney at Meltzer & Bell, P.A.. If you are concerned about the points, then call us for more information on fighting your ticket. We have a money back guarantee - no points, no school or your money back for noncriminal traffic violations not involving a crash. Some restrictions apply, and court costs and fees may apply, in addition to the attorney fee.
We represent clients throughout the traffic courts throughout Palm Beach County and Broward County, including the Main Courthouse in West Palm Beach and the South County Traffic Court in Delray Beach as well as the South Regional Courthouse in Hollywood and the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale.
Palm Beach County Points Violations
|
Violation
|
Points Assessed
|
|---|
|
Speeding Tickets:
|
|
Unlawful speed – 15 MPH or less over lawful or posted speed
|
3
|
|
Unlawful speed – 16 MPH or more over lawful or posted speed
|
4
|
|
Unlawful speed resulting in a crash
|
6
|
|
Texting while Driving Citations - 3 points
|
|
Two points are added to the primary offense if texting occurred in a school zone
|
3
|
|
Six points are added if the texting offense resulted in a crash
|
3
|
|
All other moving violations
|
3
|
|
Parking on a highway outside the limits or municipalities
|
3
|
|
Violation of curfew
|
3
|
|
Driving during restricted hours
|
3
|
|
Open container as an operator
|
3
|
|
Child restraint violation
|
3
|
|
Any moving violation resulting in a crash
|
4
|
|
Reckless Driving
|
4
|
|
Passing a stopped school bus
|
4
|
|
Violation of traffic control signal/sign/device (red lights)
|
4
|
|
Violation of traffic control signal/sign/device if camera-enforced
|
0
|
|
Leaving the scene of a crash resulting in property damage of more than $50
|
6
|
Notes:
- The driver receives the same number of points listed if the conviction occurs out-of-state or in a federal court.
- Fines are doubled when infractions occur within a school zone or construction zone, with possible civil penalties up to $1,000 and can be required to complete driving school course.
- The fine for exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 mph is $1,000 for the first offense and $2,500 for the second. In addition, a second 50 over offense can lead to a mandatory license suspension.
Length of Suspension for Points
12 points within a 12-month period.........................................................30 days
18 points within a 18-month period..........................................................3 months
24 points within a 36-month period..........................................................1 year
In computing points and suspensions, the offense dates of all convictions are used. Three points will be deducted from the driver record of any person whose driving privilege has been suspended only once under the point system and has been reinstated, if such person has complied with all other requirements.
Be aware that a point suspension does not prohibit these convictions from being used to accumulate additional suspensions or revocations.
Mandatory Restriction for Minors in Florida
Any driver under the age of 18 who accumulates 6 or more points within a 12 month period is automatically restricted for one year to driving for “Business Purposes ONLY.” If additional points are accumulated, the restriction in Florida is extended for 90 days for every additional point received.
Finding a Traffic Ticket Lawyer in Broward County
Under Florida law, convictions for a number of different types of traffic infractions can cause the loss or restriction of your driving privileges. If you pay the ticket, you will receive points for moving violations. If you accumulate too many points in a certain period of time, your license will be suspended and can be revoked.
If you are interested in avoiding the points and a conviction for a moving violation, civil traffic infraction, or criminal traffic infraction, then contact an attorney at Meltzer & Bell, P.A..
Our attorneys represent clients on traffic tickets throughout Palm Beach County and Broward County, including such communities as Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Pompano Beach, Delray Beach, Pembroke Pines, Boca Raton, Hollywood, Boynton Beach, Miramar, and Wellington.
This article was last updated on Monday, November 1, 2016.
