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Many driving violations and infractions in Georgia are punishable through the state’s points system. Each traffic ticket may cost you a number of points, up until you have enough to get your license suspended. This number is partially influenced by your age.

Keep reading this article to learn more about driver license points and suspensions in the Peach State, as well as how you can obtain a Points Reduction and regain your driving privilege.

Georgia’s Point System

Under the state’s driving laws, a certain number of points is added to your license when you get convicted of committing a violation. Typically, this can range from one to six points per incident.

It is crucial to note that this applies to specific types of violations. In other words, you won’t receive points for any ticket or citation, just the ones that Georgia’s law lays out.

Violations and Points

Here is a list of some of the most common violations that are penalized with points in Georgia, alongside the number of points that each citation or infraction adds to your license:

• Passing a school bus unlawfully: 6 points
• Aggressive driving: 6 points
• Improper passing on a hill or curve: 4 points
• Reckless driving: 4 points
• Speeding: 2-6 points (depending on how many miles over the speed limit you were driving)
• Failure to obey a traffic-control device: 3 points
• Failure to obey a police officer: 3 points
• Violation of child safety restraint: 1 point for a first offense; 2 points for subsequent offenses
• Possessing an open alcoholic beverage container while driving: 2 points
• Failure to adequately secure load resulting in an accident: 2 points
• Driving while texting: 1 point
• Violating wireless telecommunication device usage requirements: 1 point
• Improper use of designated travel lane: 1 point (if it’s a fourth or greater offense)

As far as speeding tickets are concerned, the points that are added to your license depend on how fast you were going. To illustrate, here is a breakdown of the points you get based on how many miles per hour (mph) above the limit you sped:

• 15-18 mph over the limit: 2 points
• 19-23 mph: 3 points
• 24-33 mph: 4 points
• 34+ mph: 6 points

As an example, a driver who goes 90 mph on a road with a 60 mph maximum speed would be punished with 4 points when law enforcement pulls them over. If they went 95 mph (or 35 mph over the limit), their penalty is 6 points.

When will I not get points?

On some occasions, you may get a traffic ticket without having points added to your license.

Firstly, speedy drivers who don’t exceed the limit by more than 15 mph will not be penalized with any points. In our above example, if the driver went over the 60 mph maximum speed but stayed below 75 mph, they wouldn’t receive points.

Secondly, those who go “too fast for conditions” will also not get points. To clarify, this means driving at a speed that isn’t appropriate for the specific circumstances, even when it’s less than the official limit.

For instance, going 40 mph during a snowy day is considered “too fast for conditions”, including when the speed limit is over 40 mph. In those cases, you may get a ticket, but you will not have any points added to your license.

Lastly, and certainly not least, is that you will not get points if you’re not a Georgia resident, regardless of the type of violation that you committed.

How many points will suspend your license?

When you obtain 15 points within a 24-months time frame, your Georgia license will be suspended for 1 year. Having said that, drivers who are under the age of 21 may receive a suspension for less points.

Points and Drivers Under the Age of 21

In addition to the 15 points in 24 months stipulation, those who are younger than 21 years old will get their license suspended when they commit any offense that’s punished with 4 or more points.

Luckily, almost all traffic offenses in Georgia have a 3-point penalty or less. However, the following violations are exceptions:

• Improper passing on a hill or curve: 4 points
• Unlawfully passing a school bus: 6 points
• Speeding by 24 to 33 mph above the limit: 4 points
• Speeding by 34 mph or more above the limit: 6 points
• Reckless driving: 4 points
• Aggressive driving: 6 points

If you are younger than 21 years old, committing any of those offenses that add 4 or more points to your record will automatically cause your license to be suspended for 6 months. The rules are even more stringent for teenage drivers.

Points and Drivers Under the Age of 18

Any Georgia driver that’s 18 years old or younger will receive a 6-months license suspension for getting 4 or more points within 12 months.

In addition, these drivers wouldn’t be eligible for a limited driving permit (a document that allows you to drive only for certain purposes, such as to/from school, work, and medical appointments) when their license becomes suspended.

Therefore, if your age is 18 or less, you should be extra careful while driving because committing just one or two small violations could earn you 4 or more points and cause your license to get suspended.

How do I reduce points on my Georgia driver’s license?

If you qualify for a Points Reduction, you may have up to 7 points removed from your license every 5 years. Keep in mind that, in order to attain a Points Reduction, you must enroll in and successfully complete a certified driver improvement/defensive driving course.

After you finish these courses and want to request the Points Reduction, you need to submit your certificate of completion in one of two ways:

• In Person: You would submit the original certificate at a Georgia Department of Driving Services (DDS) Customer Service Center.
• Via Mail: Alternatively, you may send your original certificate of completion in the mail to the Georgia DDS address, which is: P. O. Box 80447, Conyers, Georgia 30013.

Before doing so, your first step towards qualifying for a Points Reduction is to find and enroll in a driver improvement/defensive driving course.

Find a Driving School

On the Georgia DDS website, you can search for certified schools in your city and county. Click here to go to the DDS Certified Driver Improvement Schools search tool page.

How can the WinIt App help?

With an app like WinIt, you don’t need to worry about researching traffic laws, trying to defend your ticket, or fighting for your driving privileges in court. Instead, WinIt’s experienced attorneys will take care of all of that (and more) for you.

Not only will a successful court challenge to your ticket prevent a license suspension, but it could free you of any monetary and non-monetary penalties. You also save a lot on insurance! If your license is already suspended, WinIt’s partners can certainly work with you on reinstating it, alongside removing other obligations and sentences.

Above all, we don’t expect you to pay a dime until our partnered traffic lawyers successfully represent you in court. Even then, we only charge you a percentage of your original ticket amount. Click here to start fighting your ticket in court and/or get your license back. With WinIt, you will save money and be back on the road as soon as possible!