When I was a young man, I often found myself the target of predatorial police officers who were bound and determined to meet their monthly quotas by finding a way to ticket me...for anything. More than once, my license was nearly suspended for accumulating too many points.
As would be expected, many people are interested in knowing how many points are associated with various citations and how many, total, points does it take to suspend a license? First, points suspensions:
O.C.G.A. §40-5-57
"The driver‟s license of any person who has accumulated 15 or more points, as measured by the offense date, in any consecutive 24-month period shall be suspended. Not just the past 24 months, ANY 24-month period. No points shall be assessed as provided in O.C.G.A. §40-5-57 for any violation committed by a non-resident."
It's important to understand the meaning of the caveat of this statute. It is measured by the DATE OF THE OFFENSE. However, you don't actually get the points assessed until you pay the fine/plead guilty. As such, delaying your court date or getting continuances won't alter the date you got the offense.
So, if you happen to have 14 points in a 22 month period, and you get another 2 point ticket before the 2 year anniversary of the first citation of that 14 point total, the date you're convicted is not the date counted. The 24 month period goes from the date you receive the first citation to the date you receive the last citation. In this case, even if you delay paying the fine/pleading guilty an entire year, the day that plea is entered, the Clerk would send notification to the Department of Driver Services (DDS) and DDS would subsequently suspend your license.
- Jason Carnell
Below is a list of various points schedules:
Speeding - O.C.G.A. 40-6-181
- 15-18 mph-2 points
- 19-23 mph-3 points
- 24-33 mph-4 points
- 34+ mph-6 points
Other Offenses
The following traffic violations may result in 1 point being assessed against your Georgia driver’s license
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-241.1 Violation of Usage of Wireless Telecommunications Device
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-241.2 Operating a Vehicle while Text Messaging
The following traffic violations may result in 2 points being assessed against your Georgia driver’s license
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-248.1 Unsecured Load Resulting in Accident
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-253 Open Container
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-254 Unsecured Load Resulting in Accident
The following traffic violations may result in 3 points being assessed against your Georgia driver’s license
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-2 Failure to Obey Person Directing Traffic
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-6 Emergency Vehicle Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-11 No Proof of Insurance-Motorcycle
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-14 Limits on Sound Volume
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-16 “Move Over” Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-17 Use of Traffic-Control Device Preemption Emitter (while operating a motor vehicle)
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-20 Disregard of Traffic Control Device or Signal
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-21 Failure to Obey Traffic Signal or Light
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-23 Failure to Obey Flashing Signal
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-24 Lane Direction Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-26(a) Tampering with Traffic Signs or Signals (while operating vehicle)
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-26(b) Operating Vehicle on Closed Roadway
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-27 Tampering with Pavement Markers (while operating vehicle)
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-40 Improper Lane Usage
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-41 Failure to Yield to Oncoming Traffic
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-42 Improper Passing
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-43 Improper Passing on the Right
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-44 Improper Passing
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-46 Passing in a No Passing Zone
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-47(b) Wrong Way on One-Way Road
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-47(c) Rotary Traffic Island Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-48 Failure to Maintain Lane
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-49 Following Too Closely
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-50 Driving Within Gore or Improper Entry to Controlled Access Highway
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-51 Improper Use of Controlled-Access Road
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-52 Truck Lane Usage Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-53 Bus or Motorcoach Lane Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-55 Failure to Yield to Bicycle
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-56 Failure to Maintain Safe Distance from Bicycle
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-70 Failure to Yield at Intersection
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-71 Failure to Yield when Turning Left
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-72 Stop/Yield Sign Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-73 Failure to Yield when Crossing or Entering Road
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-74 Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicle
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-75 Failure to Yield to Construction Vehicle
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-76 Failure to Yield to Funeral Procession
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-91 Failure to Yield to Pedestrian
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-93 Failure to Exercise Due Care Near Pedestrian
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-94 Failure to Yield to Blind Pedestrian
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-98 Driving Through Safety Zone
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-120 Improper Turning
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-121 Improper U-Turn
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-122 Improper Starting
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-123 Failure to Signal Turn
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-124 Improper Use of Signal
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-125 Improper Use of Hand Signal
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-126 Improper Use of Turn Lane
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-140 Railroad Grade Crossing Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-141 Disregard of Stop Sign at Railroad Grade Crossing
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-142 Failure to Stop at Railroad Grade Crossing
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-143 Improper Movement of Heavy Equipment at Railroad Grade Crossing
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-144 Improper Emerging from Alley, Driveway or Building
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-160 School Bus Speeding Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-161 School Bus Headlight or Communication Device Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-162 School Bus Signal Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-164 School Bus Disembarking Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-165 School Bus Operation Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-184 Impeding the Flow of Traffic
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-205 Obstructing an Intersection
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-240 Improper Backing
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-241 Failure to Exercise Due Care
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-242 Driving with Obstructed View
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-244 Allowing Passenger in House Trailer
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-245 Improper Mountain/Canyon Driving
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-246 Coasting
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-247 Improper Following of Emergency Vehicle
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-248 Crossing Fire Hose
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-248.1 Unsecured Load Resulting in Accident
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-250 Wearing Device Impairing Vision or Hearing
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-251 Laying Drags
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-252 Cruising
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-253.1 Improper Transportation of Infectious Substance
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-254 Unsecured Load Resulting in Accident
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-271 Violation of Duty Upon Striking Unattended Vehicle
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-272 Violation of Duty Upon Striking Fixed Object
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-273 Failure to Report Accident
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-275 Failure to Remove Vehicle From Roadway
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-311 Improper Operation of Motorcycle
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-312 Motorcycle Lane Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-312(e) Operation of Motorcycle Without Head/Tail Light
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-313 Clinging to Vehicle While on Motorcycle
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-314 Motorcycle Equipment Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-315 Motorcycle Protective Gear Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-326 Operating Personal Assistive Mobility Device While Intoxicated
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-352 Moped Headgear Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-361 Low Speed Vehicle Lane Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-362 Low Speed Vehicle Roadway Violation
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-393.1(c) Feticide by Vehicle-2nd Degree
The following traffic violations may result in 4 points being assessed against your Georgia driver’s license
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-45 Improper Passing on Hill or Curve
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-390 Reckless Driving
The following traffic violations may result in 6 points being assessed against your Georgia driver’s license
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-163 - Unlawful Passing of School Bus
- O.C.G.A. 40-6-397 - Aggressive Driving
For additional questions, please email me at jason@carnellfirm.com or call me at 770-729-4809.
- Jason Carnell
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