Getting a traffic ticket in West Chester, Pennsylvania can be more than a minor annoyance. If you are found guilty of a moving violation, you will receive points on your record from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The point system used in the state tracks your behavior while driving. If you accumulate too many points, your insurance rates will increase., You can also have your driver's license suspended if you have too many points or immediately for certain crimes. If you get help from an experienced traffic attorney at DiCindio Law, you can avoid accumulating too many points and receiving a license suspension. If you depend on your ability to drive to get to work, run errands, or go to school, getting too many points on your driving record can cause major disruptions in your life.,
Points and driver's license suspensions in Pennsylvania
If you reach six points or more on your Pennsylvania Driving Record, you are at risk of having your driving privileges suspended. The number of points that can cause you to lose your license depends on your age and the type of license you have. If you have a commercial driver's license, you may receive higher points and have your license suspended immediately for certain types of traffic citations.,
Points for young drivers
If you are under 18 years old, PennDOT will issue a license suspension if you accumulate six points on your record or if you are ticketed and convicted for driving more than 26 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. If it is your first license suspension, it will last for 90 days. If it is a second or subsequent suspension, it will last 120 days.
Points for adult drivers
If you are an adult driver, your license will not necessarily be suspended if you accumulate six points on your driving record., Instead, you may have some alternatives available to you, depending on how many times you have accumulated six points on your record.
If this is your first time accumulating six or more points, you will have the opportunity to take a written test. As long as you take it and pass within 30 days, your license will not be suspended and two points will be removed from your record. If you do not take and pass the test within 30 days of receiving notice from PennDOT, your license will be suspended.,
If you accumulate six or more points on your record for the second time, you must attend a hearing. A PennDOT Hearing Officer will determine if your license should be suspended for 15 days or if you should be allowed to take an on-the-road test to remove two points. If your license is suspended for 15 days, two points will be deducted from your record upon completion. Finally, the hearing officer may also decide to take no action against you.
If you accumulate six or more points for the third time, you must go to a department hearing., The examiner will decide whether to suspend your license for 30 days.
Multiple traffic tickets can lead to an immediate suspension of your driver's license, including the following:
- DUI – Can result in a driver's license suspension of up to 18 months
- Driving 31 miles per hour over the speed limit – May result in a 15-day suspension of your driver's license
- Accumulate 11 or more points on your driving record
If you accumulate 11 or more points, the length of your suspension will be determined by the number of times you were previously suspended., If it is your first suspension, you will receive a five-day suspension per point. If it's your second suspension, it lasts 10 days per point. If it is your third suspension, it will be 15 days per point. For all subsequent license suspensions, they last one year.
If you have received tickets in the past, you need to know how many points you have on your driving record. You can check with PennDOT to find out,.
The point schedule
Traffic offenses have point penalties depending on their severity., We've listed some common types of moving violations and their point penalties below. To see a complete schedule, you can view the Pennsylvania Point System information sheet.
Low Point Injuries
Low point injuries add fewer points to your record.,two points
High-point traffic violations
Some violations are considered serious and add higher point penalties to your record.,iolations include the following:
- Failure to stop at a railroad crossing – four points
- Accident resulting in property damage-four points
- Speeding from 16 to 25 miles per hour over the speed limit-four points
- Accelerating 26 to 30 miles per hour over the speed limit – five points
- Accelerating 31 miles per hour or more over the speed limit – five points
- Not stopping for a school bus with flashing red lights – five points
If you receive a citation for a serious traffic violation, you'll likely have to go to court to fight it.,
Good drivers enjoy lower auto insurance rates
Earning points on your driving record can cause your insurance rates to increase. You can delete points from your record. If you drive for 12 consecutive months without having your license suspended and without committing another driving violation, three points will be removed from your driving record. If you can keep zero points on your record for 12 or more months, you'll be treated as if you've never earned any points at all.,
Contact the DiCindio law office
Most moving offenses in Pennsylvania add points to your record if you plead guilty. When you get help from an experienced traffic law attorney at DiCindio Law Firm, you can secure a plea to a non-moving violation so you don't add points to your record. An attorney can also help you fight serious traffic offenses to protect your driving privileges. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.,
The above information does not include the entire Penal Code, annotations, amendments, or recent changes to the law that may be relevant. The information provided is for informational purposes only and may not reflect the most current legal developments or the most complete legal issues for all cases These materials are not intended to be, and should not be used as, legal advice for any particular fact or circumstance. It is intended for informational purposes only.