Driver’s License Points in North Carolina
For any type of traffic violation, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) adds the conviction to your driving record and assigns you de-meriting points depending upon the type and severity of the offense. Besides this, the DMV may also notify your insurance company on your request or issue order for suspension or completion of driver improvement course (if it is applicable).
Getting points for traffic violations not only result in fines, court fees or community service but they may also result in cancellation of your license. The North Carolina General Statutes 20-16 and 20-16.1 has defined specific scenarios where the NC-DMV possesses the right to suspend somebody’s driving license. The authority has also set forth a schedule of point values that specifies how many points does each offense cost.
For example, if you accumulate 12 or more than 12 points within a span of three years, your driver’s license might be suspended. Also, if more than 8 points are accumulated in the three year period that follows the reinstatement of license following a suspension because of a traffic offense; your license may be suspended.
Here is a complete list of Schedule of Point Values as per NCGS 20-16. For all these traffic offenses occurring with the state of North Carolina, the NC-DMMV records convictions.
Driver’s License Point Schedule for Non-Commercial Vehicles
|
Traffic Offense |
Points |
| Passing stopped school bus |
5 |
| Aggressive driving |
5 |
| Reckless driving |
4 |
| Hit and run, property damage only |
4 |
| Following too close |
4 |
| Driving on wrong side of road |
4 |
| Illegal passing |
4 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way to pedestrian |
4 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way to bicycle, motor scooter, or motorcycle |
4 |
| Running through stop sign |
3 |
| Speeding in excess of 55 miles per hour |
3 |
| Failing to yield right-of-way |
3 |
| Running through red light |
3 |
| No driver’s license or license expired more than one year |
3 |
| Failure to stop for siren |
3 |
| Driving through safety zone |
3 |
| No liability insurance |
3 |
| Failure to report accident where such report is required |
3 |
| Speeding in a school zone |
3 |
| Failure to properly restrain a child in a restraint or seat belt |
2 |
| All other moving violations |
2 |
| Littering pursuant to G.S. 14-399 when the littering involves the use of a motor vehicle |
1 |
Driver’s License Point Schedule for Commercial Vehicles
The associated points are even higher when the convicted is found to be driving a commercial motor vehicle when committing the traffic offense.
| Traffic Offense |
Points |
| Passing stopped school bus |
8 |
| Rail-highway crossing violation |
6 |
| Careless and reckless driving in violation of G.S. 20-140(f) |
6 |
| Speeding in violation of G.S. 20-141(j3) |
6 |
| Aggressive driving |
6 |
| Reckless driving |
5 |
| Hit and run, property damage only |
5 |
| Following too close |
5 |
| Driving on wrong side of road |
5 |
| Illegal passing |
5 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way to pedestrian |
5 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way to bicycle, motor scooter, or motorcycle |
5 |
| Running through stop sign |
4 |
| Speeding in excess of 55 miles per hour |
4 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way |
4 |
| Running through red light |
4 |
| No driver’s license or license expired more than one year |
4 |
| Failure to stop for siren |
4 |
| Driving through safety zone |
4 |
| No liability insurance |
4 |
| Failure to report accident where such report is required |
4 |
| Speeding in a school zone |
4 |
| Possessing alcoholic beverages in the passenger area of a commercial motor vehicle |
4 |
| All other moving violations |
3 |
| Littering pursuant to G.S. 14-399 when the littering involves the use of a motor vehicle |
1 |
Convictions that Don’t Cost Any NC-DMV Points
The following traffic offenses do not result in any NC-DMV traffic offense points.
- Overloads
- Over length
- Over width
- Over height
- Illegal parking
- Carrying concealed weapon(s)
- Improper equipment/plates/registration/muffler
- Improper display of license plates or dealer’s tags
- Failure to display current inspection certificate
Contact a North Carolina Traffic Defense Attorney if You Have Received a Ticket
While you may be thinking that the best thing to do in this case is mailing in your ticket with payment or making the payment online, it might actually backfire at you. Doing so may not only cost you unnecessary points but in the worst case scenario your Driver’s License may also go into suspension status.
Get in touch with an experienced North Carolina traffic defense attorney to discuss your situation. We at Johnson & Nicholson, PLLC can help you reduce or eliminate the points associated with your traffic offense record.
