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The Basics of New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Points System

Posted by Matt Rooney | May 27, 2014 | 0 Comments

Accumulated Points in Relatively Short Succession Can Create Costly Problems for New Jersey Drivers

“Points” are one of the scariest words in every New Jersey driver's vocabulary! But what are they exactly? And how do they function? New Jersey drivers with 12 or more assessed points (awarded solely for moving violations, not parking or other violations) will face suspension of their driving privileges; the length of the suspension depends on factors including how quickly the points were accumulated. Three points are deducted for every year whereupon the offending party doesn't receive incur any new motor vehicle points or violations. The total number of points assigned depend entirely on the offense, ranging from “Failure to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk” (39:4–35) which is a 2-point offense to “Leaving the scene of an accident” when the accident caused a personal injury which is an 8-point violation. Click here to view New Jersey's current motor vehicle points schedule. I've found that many municipal court defendants don't fully understand how the points system functions, assuming that the state determines their insurance rates. Contrary to popular belief, the state of New Jersey plays no direct role in determining what you pay for car insurance on an annual basis. Points in New Jersey are used to determined the status of a driver's license and, in the case of those with six or more accumulated points within three years, the assessment of a surcharge.

Insurance companies make their own individual determinations as to the assignment of premium fee increases for garnered points. Insureds should check with their individual companies, but on average, the premium increase ranges between $100 to $200 annually for a period of three years for each accumulated point.

The stakes are obviously quite clearly high if you are in danger of losing your driver's license or it has already been suspended for one or more of the aforementioned reasons; the affects of paying thousands of extra dollars over the years for accumulated points can also present a significant problem.

 You need experienced counsel to explain the process, and help you restore your driving privilege and protect your legal rights. There are options for individuals facing points-laden consequences including 

If you or someone you know is facing charges in municipal court, the suspension of their driving privileges in New Jersey, or any other municipal court matter generally, please contact the municipal court defense lawyers at DeMichele & DeMichele today. You can also reach us by telephone (856) 546-1350.

About the Author

Matt Rooney

Practice Areas: Family Law (including Divorce, Alimony, Child Support, and Domestic Violence); Municipal Court; Personal Injury; Residential Real Estate; Civil Litigation; Collections.

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