We all know a person who is continually getting traffic tickets for both major and minor traffic violations. And, if you don’t know anyone like this, it may be you who is the person who seems to always be on the wrong side of a speeding ticket in Springfield. Whether your a perpetual “ticket getter” or have only gotten one traffic citation in your entire driving career, it’s important that you understand traffic laws and how getting traffic violations can affect your driving privileges, i.e., your driver’s license.
Read on to learn more about traffic ticket laws in Missouri and how many traffic tickets it takes to both suspend your driving privileges and lose them completely. If you are currently facing a traffic violation and need help getting it removed or reduced, contact the traffic ticket lawyers at Springfield Traffic Tickets today.
Missouri Driver’s License & The Point System
In Missouri, when a person receives their driver’s license, they start out with zero points. Zero points mean that, in essence, their driving record is clean. When it comes to points and driver’s licenses, less is more. Missouri Law has a point system set in place that allows the state to suspend and revoke licenses based on a traffic violation or moving violation convictions. This means that for every speeding ticket, failure to yield, DUI, and other traffic tickets in Springfield, if you either pay or plead guilty to the infraction, points will be added to your driver’s license.
As points accumulate you will receive a warning letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles(DMV). This usually occurs when you have gotten four points on your driving record within 12 months. In Missouri, points and their penalties can be broken down as follows, according to the Missouri DMV:
Driver’s license suspension (8 points or more within 18 months):
- 1st suspension–30 days.
- 2nd suspension—60 days.
- 3rd suspension—90 days.
Driver’s license revocation for one year:
- 12 points or more within 12 months.
- 18 points or more within 24 months.
- 24 points or more within 36 months.
When your license is suspended you’ll also need to apply for SR-22, a type of insurance that is for high-risk drivers. This insurance is more expensive than regular insurance.
*Depending on the type of traffic violation, there is a real possibility of losing your license for the rest of your life. This usually only occurs when someone has multiple DUIs, careless and imprudent driving charges, or was guilty of vehicular manslaughter. So when it comes down to the question, “how many traffic tickets can I get before I lose my license in Missouri?” There is no clear answer (other than suspension will happen automatically after the first 8 months as shown above). What really matters is the kind of ticket infractions on your record, not the amount.
Not All Points Are Created Equal
Just like all laws, traffic citations, and the points associated with them are not created equal. For example, in Missouri, most speeding tickets will earn you anywhere from 2 to 3 points, whereas a DUI will land you 12 points an automatic license suspension. And, while at first, it may seem like less of a hassle to just pay the ticket and move on, the fewer tickets you have on your license the better. Points on your license can keep you from getting jobs where driving is a requirement, plus they will increase your insurance premium. Also, it should be noted that it takes over three years to have all points removed from your license granted that you don’t accumulate any other points from traffic tickets in Springfield during that time.
Get Help Getting Your Driver’s License Back
Whether you need legal help fighting a traffic violation or need help applying for a limited driver’s license in Missouri so that you can get to work, school, etc., we can help. We’ve dealt with hundreds of traffic tickets in Springfield and have helped countless people turn their moving violation charges into non-moving charges so that no points will be added to their Missouri driver’s license.
If you are concerned about losing your driving privileges or need help reinstating them, contact Springfield Traffic Tickets today.