Driving Points

By: Chief Steven A. Baldwin

In the State of New Hampshire demerit points are assessed against your driving record by the Department of Motor Vehicles for certain violations, and someone can be subject to administrative license suspension or face the possibility of being certified as a Habitual Offender for having to many demerit points. There are several ways to reduce your driving points one way is to attend a course given by the New Hampshire Traffic Safety Institute known as the Defensive Driving Attitude Course.  It is a highly effective driver-training program, which is open to all.    The course emphasizes the connections between behavior, attitude, and driving, the Defensive Driving Attitude Course enables participants to realize that safe or unsafe driving is the result of each individual's choices.  The course is designed to encourage participants to accept responsibility for their own actions. The course reviews and discusses the reasons that participants are taking the course, individual driving behaviors, the difference between needs and wants and how they apply to driving, rules of the road, traffic regulations, and various driving situations.  A primary objective of the course is to encourage the development of individual plans that will improve driving behaviors and, in turn, improve highway safety. Participants in this course are eligible for a three (3) point reduction on their driving record, and may even be eligible for an auto insurance discount (check with your insurance agent).

Some of the common violations and point values are: One Demerit Point Failure to obtain a New Hampshire Driver's License Two Demerit Points Unregistered vehicle Motorcycle operation without a license Three Demerit Points Disobedience to a required traffic control device Failing to obey stop and yield signs Speeding at less than 25 MPH above the posted limit Four Demerit Points Driving without a license contrary to RSA 263:1 Speeding at 25 MPH or more above the posted limit Improper passing Yellow line violation Six Demerit Points Driving after revocation or suspension Disobeying a police officer Reckless driving Driving while under the influence of drugs or liquor How Many Points = License suspension Drivers under 18 are subject to these suspensions: For 6 demerit points in one calendar year up to 3 months suspension For 12 demerit points in two consecutive calendar years up to 6 months suspension For 18 demerit points in 3 consecutive calendar years up to 1 year suspension Drivers age 18 to 20 are subject to these suspensions: For 9 points in one year up to 3 months For 15 points in two consecutive calendar years up to 6 months For 21 points in 3 consecutive calendar year up to 1 year Drivers 21 and older 12 demerit points in 1 calendar year up to 3 months 18 demerit points in two consecutive calendar years up to 6 months 24 demerit points in three consecutive calendar years up to 1 year For further information or a class near you please contact the Traffic Safety Institute by calling 1-800-332-3748 or check the web site at www.nhtrafficsafety.com.

Please always remember to DRIVE SAFE & BUCKLE UP!!!!