DC DMV POINT SYSTEM

IN GENERAL, UNLIKE MD AND VA., A YELLOW LIGHT MEANS STOP IN DC.

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    Drivers who incur too many points could lose their license or privilege to drive in D.C. The DC DMV may suspend your license or privilege to drive in D.C. if you accumulate 8 - 9 points. A suspension is considered mandatory if you accumulate 10 points. If you accumulate a total of 12 points the DC DMV can revoke your license or privilege to drive. Points last for two years. The DMV is required to delete points added to your record two years after the date of assessment. The DMV is also required to assign one (1) safe driving point annually at the beginning of the calendar year to the driving record of a driver who was not assessed points during the preceding twelve months, up to a maximum accumulation of five (5) points. Safe points expire after 5 years.

    For taxicab and limousine drivers the Department of For Hire Vehicles (DFHV) may suspend, revoke or not renew your D.C. hacker or limousine license if you accumulate 8 points. No points are assessed for hack or DCTC violations. However, a taxicab or limousine driver found liable for Aggressive driving, Offensive or profane language or gestures, Tailgating, Demanding pre-payment or a tip from passenger, Illegal driving maneuvers, Impeding passenger exit from the vehicle, Withholding a passenger’s luggage, Spitting on a passenger or pedestrian, Demanding that a passenger leave the vehicle in an unsafe manner or location or any willful act which endangers the health, or safety of the passenger or public may be subject to hacker or limousine license revocation, suspension or non-renewal. Also, the DFHV may suspend and propose to revoke a taxicab license based on evidence that the vehicle for hire driver has “committed a criminal offense in connection with the operation of a vehicle.”

    If you are found liable for a moving violation at the DMV by a hearing examiner or upon receipt of evidence of a conviction (the DMV considers a guilty plea a conviction - see below) for a traffic offense from a court, or if you pay a ticket you will be assessed points according to the chart below. Remember, payment of a ticket is an admission of liability. As a consequence, you could also lose your standing to challenge the legality of a traffic stop in a pending criminal case. Points are assessed whenever you pay the ticket, regardless of when the alleged infraction occurred. Points are assessed on your driver record for both DC and non-DC (out of state) moving violations. Having points on your license could increase your insurance premiums.

    The D.C. DMV may automatically revoke your license if you are found liable for: DUI, DWI, OWI (or if you are under 21 and operate a vehicle with any measurable amount of alcohol), Leaving the scene of a collision in which personal injury occurs (hit and run), Flee or attempt to elude a police officer, Aggravated reckless driving, Operate a vehicle on a suspended or revoked license, Use the driver license of another person, Receive conviction for an assault or homicide committed with an automobile, Commit a felony crime involving the use of a motor vehicle, Make a false affidavit or statement under any law relating to motor vehicles or Commit any violation while operating a vehicle without the permission of the owner.

    If you are found liable for an offense requiring automatic revocation (such as DUI, DWI and OWI) you are precluded from requesting a limited occupational license. The DC DMV also does not issue limited occupational licenses to persons who have commercial licenses. Camera tickets do not carry points.

    For more information about how Riley Legal can help you challenge your DC ticket go here.

    The following moving violations are assigned points as follows:

    D.C. DMV POINT SYSTEMS SCHEDULE 18 DCMR 303.2 (2014)

    ViolationPoints
    Operating a motor vehicle in violation of a permit restriction4 points
    Violations not listed in this schedule which did not contribute to an accident2 points
    Violations not listed in this section contributing to an accident3 points
    Speeding in excess of posted speed limit by 11 -15 miles an hour3 points
    Speeding in excess of posted speed limit by 16 - 20 miles an hour  4 points
    Speeding in excess of posted speed limit by at least 21 miles an hour or more5 points
    Leaving after colliding: With property damage8 points
    Leaving after colliding: With personal injury 12 points
    Reckless driving12 points
    Operating after suspension or revocation12 points
    Using permit of another12 points
    DUI alcohol or drugs12 points
    Any felony involving use of a motor vehicle12 points
    Any misdemeanor involving use of a motor vehicle6 points
    Failing to yield right-of-way to authorized emergency vehicle 6 points
    Following another vehicle too closely 2 points
    Operating a motor vehicle with an improper class of license2 points
    Failing to stop for a school bus or multi- purpose school vehicle with warning lights or stop signal arm actuated4 points
    Operating a motor vehicle on learner's permit unaccompanied by licensed Operator5 points
    Turning off headlights of a vehicle to avoid identification by a police officer8 points
    Fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer 12 points
    Making a false affidavit or statement under oath, or falsely certifying to the truth of any fact or information to the DMV  12 points
    Any violation committed while operating a vehicle without the permission of the owner  12 points
    Operating a motor vehicle with a permit expired less than 90 days 2 points
    Failing to stop and give right-of-way to a pedestrian3 points
    Colliding with a pedestrian in the process of failing to stop and give right-of-way6 points
    Fail to comply with seatbelt law3 points
    Distracted Driving leading to an accident 3 points

    Your license could be automatically revoked by the DMV if you are "convicted"* of:

    • Leave the scene of a collision in which personal injury occurs (hit and run)
    • Flee or attempt to elude a police officer
    • Aggravated reckless driving
    • Operate a vehicle after your driver license has been suspended or revoked
    • Use the driver license of another person
    • Commit assault or homicide with an automobile
    • DUI Alcohol or Drugs
    • DUI under 21 years old
    • Commit a felony crime involving the use of a motor vehicle
    • Make a false affidavit or statement under any law relating to motor vehicles
    • Commit any violation while operating a vehicle without the permission of the owner

    * Unfortunately, even if an offender has not been sentenced, D.C. regulations define a "conviction" as "a plea of guilty, or a finding of guilt shall be equivalent to a conviction, regardless of whether the penalty is rebated, suspended, or probated."

    Also, although juveniles are not criminally adjudicated in juvenile court, a juvenile found guilty ("found to be involved") of any of the above mentioned offenses is also subject to license revocation.