PA points system
Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2004 3:30 pm
A friend who visits the board recently asked about the PA drivers points system. There was a discussion where it was the topic of conversation as well. Anyway, I dug up a little info on the subject and came up with a website that may explain how the points system works here. I'm pretty sure it's correct. I thought maybe I could contribute something halfway meaningful and helpful so here it is:
The Points System and How It Works
The Department of Transportation maintains a driving record for every licensed driver in Pennsylvania. Points are added to a driving record when a driver is found guilty of certain driving (moving) violations. If a driver is found guilty of more than one violation as a result of the same act, points will be given for the one violation having the highest point value.
The purpose of the point system is to help to improve driving habits and to indure safe driving. The Department begins to take corrective actions when a driving record reaches 6 or more points. The following sections explain what happens when a driving record reaches 6 points or more.
First Accululation of 6 Points:
When a driving record reaches 6 or more points for the first time, the driver will receive a written notice to take a special point examination. The exam will address knowledge of safe driving practices, knowledge of departmental sanctions, and knowledge of related safety issues.
The driver has 30 days to successfully pass the exam or else the license will be suspended until the exam is passed. If the exam is passed within the 30 day period, 2 points will be removed from the driving record.
Second Accumulation of 6 Points:
When any driving record is reduced below 6 points and then for a second time reaches 6 points or more, the driver will have to attend a departmental hearing. The driver will receive a written notice of the specific time and location of the required hearing. At the hearing, a hearing examiner will review the driver's record. After the hearing, the Department will either order a 15 day license suspension, order the driver to take a special driver's examination, or take no action at all.
If the license is suspended or a special driver's exam is recommended, 2 points will be removed from the driving record if the driver passes the exam within 30 days or 2 points will be removed once the 15 day suspension has been served. No points are removed from the driving record if the Department does not initiate a sanction.
Failure to attend the departmental hearing will result in a 60 day license suspension.
Third or More Accumulation of 6 Points:
When any driving record is reduced below 6 points and for the third or subsequent time reaches 6 or more points, the driver will have to attend a departmental hearing. The hearing examiner will review the driving record. The Department will then determine if a 30 day license suspension will be initiated.
Failure to attend this departmental hearing will result in the suspension of the driver's license until the driver attends the hearing.
Excessive Speeding
When a driver is convicted for speeding 31 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit, the driver will have to attend a departmental hearing. The driver will receive a written notice of the specific time and location of the required hearing. The hearing examiner will review the driving record. Upon the Departments review of the hearing file, one or both of the following will be initiated: 15 day suspension and/or special driver's examination.
If a 15 day suspension is initiated, the driving record will show 5 points upon restoration. No points are removed if a special driver's examination is initiated and completed.
Failure to attend this departmental hearing will result in a 60 day license suspension.
Accumulation of 11 Points or More:
When any driving record reaches 11 or more points, the driver's license will be automatically be suspended. The length of suspension depends on how many times the license was suspended in the past. The suspension schedule is as follow:
* First suspension - 5 days per point.
* Second suspension - 10 days per point.
* Third suspension - 15 days per point.
* Subsequent suspension - One year.
Point Removal For Safe Driving:
Three points are removed from a driving record for every 12 consecutive months a person drives (from the date of last violation) without a violation which results in points, license suspension or revocation. Once a driving record is reduced to zero and remains at zero points for 12 consecutive months, any further accumulation of points is treated as the first accumulation of points.
License Suspension and Restoration:
If a driver's license is to be suspended, a written notice will be mailed to the driver listing the date when the suspension will begin. The driver may appeal the suspension to his or her county's Court of Common Pleas. The appeal must be made within 30 days after the mailing date of the notice. The driver's license must be returned to the Bureau of Driver Licensing by the effective date of suspension listed on the notice or the State Police and local police will be notified to pick up the license. In addition to serving the suspension or revocation, the appropriate restoration fee must be paid before the license is restored, the license will show 5 points, regardless of the number of points which appeared on the record before the license was suspended (except in the case of a 15 day suspension resulting from a hearing for the second accumulation of 6 points).
Notice of Change of Name or Address:
Within 15 days of change of name or address, you are required by law to notify the Bureau of Driver Licensing in writing.
For Additional Information:
If you have any questions about your driving record or the Pennsylvania Point System in general, call (412) 565-5670.
Points Per Violation:
2 - Violation of restriction on driver's license.
3 - Violation concerning license.
2 - Failure to obey policeman or authorized person.
3 - Failure to stop for a red light.
3 - Failure to stop for a flashing yellow light.
3 - Failure to yield half of roadway to oncoming vehicle.
3 - Improper passing.
3 - Improper passing on the right.
3 - Improper passing on the left.
4 - Improper passing on a hill.
3 - Improper passing at rail crossing or intersection.
3 - Improper passing at a bridge or tunnel.
3 - Improper passing in a non-passing zone.
3 - Following too closely.
3 - Failure to yield to driver on right at an intersection.
3 - Failure to yield to oncoming driver when making left turn.
3 - Failure to stop for stop sign.
3 - Failure to yield at yield sign.
3 - Failure to yield when entering or crossing roadway between intersections.
3 - Improper turning around and illegal U-turns.
3 - Failure to stop for flashing red lights or gate at rail crossing.
3 - Failure to stop when entering from alley, driveway or building.
5 - Failure to stop for school bus with flashing red lights. (60 day suspension)
2 - Driving too fast for conditions.
2 - Exceeding maximum speed (by 6-10 MPH).
3 - Exceeding maximum speed (by 11-15 MPH).
4 - Exceeding maximun speed (by 16-25 MPH).
5 - Exceeding maximum speed (by 26-30 MPH).
5*- Exceeding maximum speed (by 31-over MPH).
3 - Exceeding special speed limit for school zone.
3 - Exceeding special speed limit for trucks on downgrade.
2 - Failure to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk.
3 - Failure to yield to pedestrian on sidewalk.
3 - Failure to yield to blind pedestrians.
3 - Improper backing.
3 - Careless driving.
4 - Leaving the scene of accident involving property damage only.
* 5 points and a departmental hearing and sanctions.
The Points System and How It Works
The Department of Transportation maintains a driving record for every licensed driver in Pennsylvania. Points are added to a driving record when a driver is found guilty of certain driving (moving) violations. If a driver is found guilty of more than one violation as a result of the same act, points will be given for the one violation having the highest point value.
The purpose of the point system is to help to improve driving habits and to indure safe driving. The Department begins to take corrective actions when a driving record reaches 6 or more points. The following sections explain what happens when a driving record reaches 6 points or more.
First Accululation of 6 Points:
When a driving record reaches 6 or more points for the first time, the driver will receive a written notice to take a special point examination. The exam will address knowledge of safe driving practices, knowledge of departmental sanctions, and knowledge of related safety issues.
The driver has 30 days to successfully pass the exam or else the license will be suspended until the exam is passed. If the exam is passed within the 30 day period, 2 points will be removed from the driving record.
Second Accumulation of 6 Points:
When any driving record is reduced below 6 points and then for a second time reaches 6 points or more, the driver will have to attend a departmental hearing. The driver will receive a written notice of the specific time and location of the required hearing. At the hearing, a hearing examiner will review the driver's record. After the hearing, the Department will either order a 15 day license suspension, order the driver to take a special driver's examination, or take no action at all.
If the license is suspended or a special driver's exam is recommended, 2 points will be removed from the driving record if the driver passes the exam within 30 days or 2 points will be removed once the 15 day suspension has been served. No points are removed from the driving record if the Department does not initiate a sanction.
Failure to attend the departmental hearing will result in a 60 day license suspension.
Third or More Accumulation of 6 Points:
When any driving record is reduced below 6 points and for the third or subsequent time reaches 6 or more points, the driver will have to attend a departmental hearing. The hearing examiner will review the driving record. The Department will then determine if a 30 day license suspension will be initiated.
Failure to attend this departmental hearing will result in the suspension of the driver's license until the driver attends the hearing.
Excessive Speeding
When a driver is convicted for speeding 31 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit, the driver will have to attend a departmental hearing. The driver will receive a written notice of the specific time and location of the required hearing. The hearing examiner will review the driving record. Upon the Departments review of the hearing file, one or both of the following will be initiated: 15 day suspension and/or special driver's examination.
If a 15 day suspension is initiated, the driving record will show 5 points upon restoration. No points are removed if a special driver's examination is initiated and completed.
Failure to attend this departmental hearing will result in a 60 day license suspension.
Accumulation of 11 Points or More:
When any driving record reaches 11 or more points, the driver's license will be automatically be suspended. The length of suspension depends on how many times the license was suspended in the past. The suspension schedule is as follow:
* First suspension - 5 days per point.
* Second suspension - 10 days per point.
* Third suspension - 15 days per point.
* Subsequent suspension - One year.
Point Removal For Safe Driving:
Three points are removed from a driving record for every 12 consecutive months a person drives (from the date of last violation) without a violation which results in points, license suspension or revocation. Once a driving record is reduced to zero and remains at zero points for 12 consecutive months, any further accumulation of points is treated as the first accumulation of points.
License Suspension and Restoration:
If a driver's license is to be suspended, a written notice will be mailed to the driver listing the date when the suspension will begin. The driver may appeal the suspension to his or her county's Court of Common Pleas. The appeal must be made within 30 days after the mailing date of the notice. The driver's license must be returned to the Bureau of Driver Licensing by the effective date of suspension listed on the notice or the State Police and local police will be notified to pick up the license. In addition to serving the suspension or revocation, the appropriate restoration fee must be paid before the license is restored, the license will show 5 points, regardless of the number of points which appeared on the record before the license was suspended (except in the case of a 15 day suspension resulting from a hearing for the second accumulation of 6 points).
Notice of Change of Name or Address:
Within 15 days of change of name or address, you are required by law to notify the Bureau of Driver Licensing in writing.
For Additional Information:
If you have any questions about your driving record or the Pennsylvania Point System in general, call (412) 565-5670.
Points Per Violation:
2 - Violation of restriction on driver's license.
3 - Violation concerning license.
2 - Failure to obey policeman or authorized person.
3 - Failure to stop for a red light.
3 - Failure to stop for a flashing yellow light.
3 - Failure to yield half of roadway to oncoming vehicle.
3 - Improper passing.
3 - Improper passing on the right.
3 - Improper passing on the left.
4 - Improper passing on a hill.
3 - Improper passing at rail crossing or intersection.
3 - Improper passing at a bridge or tunnel.
3 - Improper passing in a non-passing zone.
3 - Following too closely.
3 - Failure to yield to driver on right at an intersection.
3 - Failure to yield to oncoming driver when making left turn.
3 - Failure to stop for stop sign.
3 - Failure to yield at yield sign.
3 - Failure to yield when entering or crossing roadway between intersections.
3 - Improper turning around and illegal U-turns.
3 - Failure to stop for flashing red lights or gate at rail crossing.
3 - Failure to stop when entering from alley, driveway or building.
5 - Failure to stop for school bus with flashing red lights. (60 day suspension)
2 - Driving too fast for conditions.
2 - Exceeding maximum speed (by 6-10 MPH).
3 - Exceeding maximum speed (by 11-15 MPH).
4 - Exceeding maximun speed (by 16-25 MPH).
5 - Exceeding maximum speed (by 26-30 MPH).
5*- Exceeding maximum speed (by 31-over MPH).
3 - Exceeding special speed limit for school zone.
3 - Exceeding special speed limit for trucks on downgrade.
2 - Failure to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk.
3 - Failure to yield to pedestrian on sidewalk.
3 - Failure to yield to blind pedestrians.
3 - Improper backing.
3 - Careless driving.
4 - Leaving the scene of accident involving property damage only.
* 5 points and a departmental hearing and sanctions.
. Can you believe I get the same points as hit and run and more then careless driving? 
