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New Jersey, like many states, uses what is called a driver license point system. Each traffic violation (including criminal and non-criminal violations) is assigned a point value ranging from zero to eight. These points can have serious consequences for New Jersey drivers. Here’s what you need to know to keep yourself and your driver license protected.

For What Type of Violations Can You Get Points on Your License

There are two kinds of traffic violations in New Jersey: moving violations and non-moving violations. Moving violations typically occur while the vehicle is in motion, whereas non-moving violations typically occur while the vehicle is not in motion. Only moving violations can cause you to earn points on your driver license in New Jersey.

That means violations like speeding and reckless driving can cause your point total to increase but violations like parking infractions and equipment violations cannot. Furthermore, these violations will only add points to your driver license if you are found guilty and convicted of the charges.

For example, if you are charged with causing an accident resulting in personal injury (worth eight points), you will only see those points added to your driver license if the court finds you guilty of that charge.

How to Remove Points from Your License

The best way to fight points is to fight your ticket and ensure that it gets dismissed. That would result in the points never being attached to your record in the first place. To do that, download the WinIt app and contact a lawyer the moment you receive a ticket.

However, if points have already been added to your license, it’s too late to fight them. Instead, you’ll need to satisfy one of the state’s four requirements for removing points:

• Go one year with a valid license without receiving any traffic-related convictions: Remove three points.
• Complete a state-approved online defensive driving course: Remove two points.
• Complete a Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) Driver Improvement Program (DIP) course: Remove three points.
• Complete a state-approved Probationary Driver Program: Remove three points.

How Many Points Will Suspend a License

If you are convicted of one or more traffic violations and receive a total of 12 points on your driver license at any one point in time, your license will be suspended. In addition to that restriction, the MVC will impose heavy fines and fees on each driver who earns six points or more in total.

However, it is possible to avoid an administrative suspension that is ordered as a result of obtaining too many points on your driver license. To do so, you must petition the court to authorize you to enroll in an MVC Driver Improvement Program course. These DIP courses are designed to help remedial drivers improve their driving habits and earn fewer tickets in the future.

In order to qualify for an MVC DIP course, you will have to be approved by the court with jurisdiction over your ticket. Once approved, you must successfully complete the course in order to obtain the benefit of not having your license suspended. Failing or skipping out on the course will result in you not obtaining any benefits.

Violations and Their Points

Each violation codified in New Jersey’s traffic laws can have a point value of between zero and eight points. In general, the less severe violations will be worth fewer points. Which violations are worth how many points is determined by the state government and written in the state’s “point schedule.”

It is possible to be convicted of multiple violations at the same time, significantly increasing your point totals. And obtaining too many points on your license at any one time can result in you facing serious fines, fees, and other penalties (such as the suspension of your driver license).

The table below contains a list of some of the most common violations and their point counts: 

All of the violations contained in the list below are worth two points: 

• 27:23-29 Moving Against Traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway or Atlantic City Expressway
• 227:23-29 Improper Passing on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway or Atlantic City Expressway
• 427:23-29 Unlawful Use of Median Strip on the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway or Atlantic City Expressway
• 239:3-20 Operating a Constructor Vehicle in Excess of 45 Mph
• 339:4-14.3 Operating a Motorized Bicycle on a Restricted Highway
• 239:4-14.3d More than One Person on a Motorized Bicycle
• 239:4-35 Failure to Yield to a Pedestrian in Crosswalk
• 239:4-36 Failure to Yield to Pedestrian in Crosswalk; Passing a Vehicle Yielding to Pedestrian in Crosswalk
• 239:4-41 Driving Through a Safety Zone
• 239:4-52 and 39:5c-1 Racing on Highway
• 539:4-55 Improper Action or Omission on Grades and Curves
• 239:4-57 Failure to Observe Direction of Officer
• 239:4-66 Failure to Stop Vehicle Before Crossing Sidewalk
• 239:4-66.1 Failure to Yield to Pedestrians or Vehicles While Entering or Leaving Highway
• 239:4-66.2 Driving on Public or Private Property to Avoid a Traffic Sign or Signal
• 239:4-71 Operating a Motor Vehicle on a Sidewalk
• 239:4-80 Failure to Obey Direction of Officer
• 239:4-81 Failure to Observe Traffic Signals
• 239:4-82 Failure to Keep Right
• 239:4-82.1 Improper Passing of Vehicle on Divided Highway or Divider
• 239:4-83 Failure to Keep Right at Intersection
• 239:4-84 Failure to Pass to Right of Vehicle Proceeding in Opposite Direction
• 539:4-85 Improper Passing on Right or off Roadway
• 439:4-85.1 Wrong Way on a One-way Street
• 239:4-86 Improper Passing in No Passing Zone
• 439:4-87 Failure to Yield to Overtaking Vehicle
• 239:4-88 Failure to Observe Traffic Lanes
• 239:4-89 Tailgating
• 239:4-90 Failure to Yield at Intersection
• 539:4-90.1 Failure to Use Proper Entrances to Limited Access Highways
• 239:4-91 and 39:4-92 Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicles
• 239:4-96 Reckless Driving
• 539:4-97 Careless Driving
• 239:4-97a Destruction of Agricultural or Recreational Property
• 239:4-97.1 Slow Speed Blocking Traffic
• 239:4-98 Exceeding Maximum: Speed 1-14 Mph over Limit
• 239:4-99 Exceeding Maximum: Speed 15-29 Mph over Limit
• 439:4-99 Exceeding Maximum: Speed 30 Mph or More over Limit
• 539:4-105 Failure to Stop for Traffic Light
• 239:4-115 Improper Turn at Traffic Light
• 339:4-119 Failure to Stop at Flashing Red Signal
• 239:4-122 Failure to Stop for a Police Whistle
• 239:4-123 Improper Right or Left Turn
• 339:4-124 Improper Turn from Approved Turning Course
• 339:4-125 Improper “U” Turn
• 339:4-126 Failure to Give Proper Signal
• 239:4-127 Improper Backing or Turning in Street
• 239:4-127.1 Improper Crossing of a Railroad Grade Crossing
• 239:4-127.2 Improper Crossing of a Bridge
• 239:4-128 Improper Crossing of a Railroad Grade Crossing by Certain Vehicles
• 239:4-128.1 Improper Passing of School Bus
• 539:4-128.4 Improper Passing of Frozen Dessert Truck
• 439:4-129 Leaving the Scene of an Accident, No Personal Injury
• 239:4-129 Leaving the Scene of an Accident, Personal Injury
• 839:4-144 Failure to Observe “Stop” or “Yield” Signs
• 239:5d-4 Moving Violation out of State