Results-Driven Legal Counsel

New Jersey Point Schedule

Below find answers to some frequently asked questions about the New Jersey point schedule for drivers:

What are points?

Motor Vehicle Services (MVS) tracks your driving by adding points to your record when you are convicted of a moving violation. The more serious the violation, the more points you are assessed. The illustration below shows a list of traffic violations and their point values. Motor vehicle points are completely separate from insurance eligibility points, which are used by the NJ Department of Banking and Insurance to assess surcharges on your insurance payments.

Will I receive a notice telling me how many points I have?

You are a probationary driver during the first two years that you are licensed to drive. You’ll receive an advisory notice when you commit your first point violation. If you receive two or more violations totaling four or more points, you must complete the probationary driver program. After your two-year probation ends, MVS will send advisory notices whenever points-assessed violations are added to your driving record and the point total is 6 to 11. The advisory notice tells you that you are close to 12 points.

How many points am I allowed to have?

For a total of 12 or more points on your driving record, MVS will issue a notice of scheduled suspension on your driving privilege.

How long will point violations stay on my record?

All point violations that you have received since March 1, 1974, will stay on your driver record. Before that date, the law provided for the removal of point violations from your record after a certain time.

Will any points be removed from my driving record?

Up to three points may be subtracted from your point total for every year of safe driving (no violations or suspensions). But, your point total will never be reduced below zero.

Reduction of points occurs one year after:

  • your last point violation.
  • or your license was restored.
  • or the last time annual safe driving points were subtracted from your record (whichever is later).
  • after completion of an MVS offered driver improvement program, up to three points may be subtracted from your point total. These programs are only offered to problem drivers selected by MVS. Credit is given for one program maximum every two years.
  • after completion of an MVS approved defensive driving course up to two points may be subtracted from your point total. Credit is given for one program maximum every five years.

DMV Points Following a Traffic Ticket – 1997 N.J.A.C. 13:-10.1 Point Assessment

Any person who is convicted of any of the following offenses, including offenses, committed while operating a motorized bicycle, shall be assessed points for each conviction in accordance with the following schedule:

NJSA Point Schedule

NJSA

Section

Offense Points
New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and Atlantic City Expressway
27:23-29 Moving against traffic 2
27:23-29 Improper passing 4
27:23-29 Unlawful use of median strip 2
All roads and highways
39:3-20 Operating constructor vehicle in excess of 45 mph 3
39:4-14.3 Operating motorized bicycle on a restricted highway 2
39:4-14.3d More than one person on a motorized bicycle 2
39:4-35 Failure to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk 2
39:4-36 Failure to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk; passing a vehicle yielding to pedestrian in crosswalk 2
39:4- 41 Driving through safety zone 2
39:4-52 Racing on highway 5
39:4-55 Improper action or omission on grades and curves 2
39:4-57 Failure to observe direction of officer 2
39:4-66 Failure to stop vehicle before crossing sidewalk 2
39:4-66.1 Failure to yield to pedestrians or vehicles while entering or leaving highway 2
39:4-66.2 Driving on public or private property to avoid a traffic sign or signal 2
39:4-71 Operating a motor vehicle on a sidewalk 2
39:4-80 Failure to obey direction of officer 2
39:4-81 Failure to observe traffic signals* (Red Light Camera- 0 pts.) 2
*No points assessed for red light camera violation 0
39:4-82 Failure to keep right 2
39:4-82.1 Improper operating of vehicle on divided highway or divider 2
39:4-83 Failure to keep right at intersection 2
39:4-84 Failure to pass to right of vehicle proceeding in opposite direction 5
39:4-85 Improper passing on right or off roadway 4
39:4-85.1 Wrong way on a one-way street 2
39:4-86 Improper passing in no passing zone 4
39:4-87 Failure to yield to overtaking vehicle 2
39:4-88 Failure to observe traffic lanes 2
39:4-89 Tailgating 5
39:4-90 Failure to yield at intersection 2
39:4-90.1 Failure to use proper entrances to limited access highways 2
39:4-91

39:4-92

Failure to yield to emergency vehicles 2
39:4-96 Reckless driving 5
39:4-97 Careless driving 2
39:4-97a Destruction of agricultural or recreational property 2
39:4-97.1 Slow speed blocking traffic 2
39:4-97.2 Driving in an unsafe manner (points only for third or subsequent offense within five years of most recent 39:4-97.2 conviction) 4
39:4-98 Exceeding maximum speed 1-14 mph over limit 2
Exceeding maximum speed 15-29 mph over limit 4
Exceeding maximum speed 30 mph or more over limit 5
39:4-105 Failure to stop for traffic light 2
39:4-115 Improper turn at traffic light 3
39:4-119 Failure to stop at flashing red signal 2
39:4-122 Failure to stop for police whistle 2
39:4-123 Improper right or left turn 3
39:4-124 Improper turn from approved turning course 3
39:4-125 Improper U-turn 3
39:4-126 Failure to give proper signal 2
39:4-127 Improper backing or turning in street 2
39:4-127.1 Improper crossing of railroad grade crossing 2
39:4-127.2 Improper crossing of bridge 2
39:4-128 Improper crossing of railroad grade crossing by certain vehicles 2
39:4-128.1 Improper passing of school bus 5
39:4-128.4 Improper passing of frozen dessert truck 4
39:4-129 Leaving the scene of an accident –

no personal injury

2
Personal injury 8
39:4-144 Failure to observe stop or yield signs 2
39:5C-1 Racing on highway 5
39:5D-4 Moving violation committed out-of-state 2

Contact Law Offices of Jennifer M. Mendelsohn, LLC For Answer To Your Questions

Please call attorney Jennifer Mendelsohn for more information about your driver’s license and any traffic violations you have been charged with. Call 201-957-0515 or contact us online for a free initial consultation.