In the state of New Jersey, the Motor Vehicle Commission, or the MVC, keeps track of all your traffic violations and penalties. The point of it all is to encourage safer driving habits and reduce traffic accidents.
Most drivers know there is a traffic point system and how it works. However, most young drivers have a hard time understanding the consequences and how fast those points tend to accumulate when you drive recklessly.
New Jersey Traffic Points System, The Breakdown
The New Jersey points system is quite simple. Every violation adds points to your driving record. For example, improper passing adds four points, and failure to yield to pedestrians adds two. If you want to know exactly how many points each traffic offense carries, you can check this NJ Points Schedule.
Surcharges
The first bigger issue appears if you accumulate six or more points within three years with your current driving record – it results in a surcharge. In its basic form, a surcharge begins with $150 for six points and another $25 for each additional point.
In some cases, you could be paying that amount annually for the next three years. Plus, you can get an additional annual surcharge for specific violations like driving with a suspended license – $250 a year for three years.
License Suspension
Driving license suspension means you will lose your driving privileges. In other words, you cannot drive anymore. This happens when you amass 12 or more points on your driving record in any amount of time.
To reinstate your license, you will have to pay a restoration fee of $100, complete a series of steps provided by the MVC, and complete a Driver Improvement Program that costs $150. When you pass all the requirements, you will regain your driving privileges, but you will have to pass a mandatory probation period.
Traffic Points Record
The state of New Jersey keeps a lifetime record of traffic points. This means they won’t go away regardless of much time has passed.
Reducing Points With a New Jersey Defensive Driving Course
There are a few ways you can reduce points on your driving record. Furthermore, regardless of the way or program you take to reduce points, your insurance company will probably see that as a reason for a discount. Depending on your insurance provider, you could get anywhere between a 5 and 10% discount.
The first and most desirable way to reduce your traffic points is to go one year without any violations or suspensions. This will reduce three points from your record. Keep in mind that the year begins on the date of your most recent violation or suspension.
Secondly, you have the fastest and easiest way to reduce your driving points – online New Jersey defensive driving course. The course will teach you safe driving techniques and you will repeat traffic laws and regulations. This will result in a two-point reduction. Note that you can only take the course once every five years for points reduction.
There are two more ways to reduce points on your driving record, but you cannot take them voluntarily. You can get a three-point reduction through the driver improvement program once every two years. And with the probationary driver program, you can reduce three points from your driving record.
However, you can attend both of these programs only when the MVC sends you an order to attend, usually as one of the steps to reinstate your driving license.
The New Jersey Defensive Driving Course
The online New Jersey defensive driving course is the fastest way to reduce points from your driving record, especially if you are getting close to the 12-point mark. Registration is simple and fast, and you can pass the course from the comfort of your home.
Another reason to choose an online course is that you can study at your own pace. The course is divided into modules with quizzes after each module and the final test. But there isn’t a requirement to how many you have to pass at a certain time.
You do have to study for at least six hours and pass all the quizzes to reach the final exam, but you can do that at your own pace and when you feel you are ready.
This course will reduce two points from your driving record and it will make you a safer driver. This, in turn, will give you a chance for a lower insurance premium. But simply relearning safe driving techniques and traffic rules and regulations should be reason enough to take this course. You will make New Jersey roads a safer place!
Do you want to remove points off your license? Check out our New Jersey Traffic School or Defensive Driving course! Call us today on (877) 786-5969 or click here to send us a message!
