Traffic ticket points are a system to quantify the severity of traffic violations and to punish them according to the severity. Every state has a set of laws governing the behavior of its citizens while operating a motor vehicle. When these laws are broken, citations are issued for the specific infractions. Once a person admits to or is found guilty of a particular infraction, points are recorded on the individuals driving record. This is monitored by the Department Of Motor Vehicles of each state. If and when a licensed driver accumulates a certain quantity of points in a specific time frame, the DMV may decide to suspend a person's driving privileges. The number of points assigned to an individual’s record varies with the severity of the offense.

Although each state determines the number of points to assign, the systems are all very similar. Hiring an experienced traffic ticket lawyer can be the difference between receiving traffic ticket points on your license and not.

Here are some general examples of offenses and their assigned traffic ticket points:

• 6 Points: Hit and run, leaving the scene of an accident, passing a stopped school bus, speeding in a school zone, reckless or careless driving 
• 5 Points: Speeding 15 mph or more above posted limit 
• 3 Points: All improper lane violations, speeding 10 to 14 MPH above posted limit, driving the wrong way on a one-way street

The range of traffic offenses, from minor such as failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign to more severe such as DUI, each carry a point quantity. Since the accumulation of these points over time have consequences related to driving privileges and insurance rates, a driver should strive to maintain a clean record. When faced with a citation and the assignment of points resulting from a conviction it is essential that drivers seek legal representation from an experienced traffic ticket attorney to keep their records as clean as possible and preserve their privileges.