How to Get Points Removed from Your Driving License

Nearly every US state uses a point system to monitor the number of traffic offenses a motorist has. You accumulate points for violations as simple as running a red light or speeding. When you reach a certain number of points, your license may be suspended or revoked, and you may even face fines and jail time. In addition, these points may be reported to insurance companies, who would increase the premiums of motorists with a high point count. Fortunately, there are ways in which you can reduce these points and restore your good driving record. Note that in general, having points taken off your driving record will not affect any penalties you have been levied as a result of a particular offense.

1. Take a traffic safety course. Many states tie removal of points to the motorist's successful completion of such programs since they will learn to drive more safely and become less of a risk. They will also help keep your car insurance rates down. However, these programs will not remove points acquired for more serious offenses, such as drunk driving. Many states will also let you use traffic school to remove points only every eighteen months to five years in order to discourage repeat violations.

2. If you believe that you were unfairly charged with a particular violation, you can contest it in traffic court. If the court finds grounds to support your claim, the relevant points will be removed from your driving record.

3. If you are a New York resident, you can apply for the Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP), which requires you to take a special course that will refresh your knowledge of safe driving techniques as well as the most current traffic laws. You have the option of taking PIRP courses through traditional classroom methods or an Alternate Delivery Method (ADM) such as through the Internet. By successfully completing the program, you may be eligible for a reduction of as much as four points on your record, as well as an annual 10% discount on the base rate of your car insurance premiums for the next three years.

4. If you live in Pennsylvania, points will be removed automatically if you maintain a clean driving record; three points will be removed for every twelve consecutive months of driving safely.

5. In Utah, you can remove points by attending the National Safety Council's Defensive Driving Course. Successful completion of the course will remove 50 points from your record. You can also have half of your points removed by having a clean driving record for one year with 100% removal after 24 months without a traffic citation.

6. There are a number of ways to get rid of points in Pennsylvania. If you have less than six points on your record, they can be removed by driving for 12 months without a moving violation. For higher point counts, you may be required to take a written examination or attend a hearing where your record will be reviewed to determine the proper course of corrective action.

7. In California, you can remove points by taking traffic school classes. It should be noted that you can only attend these classes every eighteen months and that most violations will stay on your record for at least three years, and major offenses such as reckless driving, the maximum of ten years.

Before undertaking any method of point reduction, ask for a copy of your driving record so that you'll know how many points you have. Once you've completed your point reduction method, ask for a copy of your record again, to check if the points have been removed. Make sure to contest any discrepancies that you find with the DMV. Note that you may have to pay a minimal fee when requesting your driver's record as well as providing basic information such as your driver's license number and credit card number. You may also have the option of having the record e-mailed to you.