Driving Points

In the State of New Hampshire demerit points are assessed against your driving record by the Department of Motor Vehicles for certain violations, and someone can be subject to administrative license suspension or face the possibility of being certified as a Habitual Offender for having to many demerit points.

There are several ways to reduce your driving points one way is to attend a course given by the New Hampshire Traffic Safety Institute known as the Defensive Driving Attitude Course. It is a highly effective driver-training program, which is open to all.

The course emphasizes the connections between behavior, attitude, and driving, the Defensive Driving Attitude Course enables participants to realize that safe or unsafe driving is the result of each individual's choices. The course is designed to encourage participants to accept responsibility for their own actions.

The course reviews and discusses the reasons that participants are taking the course, individual driving behaviors, the difference between needs and wants and how they apply to driving, rules of the road, traffic regulations, and various driving situations. A primary objective of the course is to encourage the development of individual plans that will improve driving behaviors and, in turn, improve highway safety.

Participants in this course are eligible for a three (3) point reduction on their driving record, and may even be eligible for an auto insurance discount (check with your insurance agent).

Some of the common violations and point values are:

One Demerit Point
Failure to obtain a New Hampshire Driver's License

Two Demerit Points
Unregistered vehicle
Motorcycle operation without a license

Three Demerit Points
Disobedience to a required traffic control device
Failing to obey stop and yield signs
Speeding at less than 25 MPH above the posted limit

Four Demerit Points
Driving without a license contrary to RSA 263:1
Speeding at 25 MPH or more above the posted limit
Improper passing
Yellow line violation

Six Demerit Points
Driving after revocation or suspension
Disobeying a police officer
Reckless driving
Driving while under the influence of drugs or liquor

How Many Points = License suspension
Drivers under 18 are subject to these suspensions:
For 6 demerit points in one calendar year up to 3 months suspension
For 12 demerit points in two consecutive calendar years up to 6 months suspension
For 18 demerit points in 3 consecutive calendar years up to 1 year suspension

Drivers age 18 to 20 are subject to these suspensions:
For 9 points in one year up to 3 months
For 15 points in two consecutive calendar years up to 6 months
For 21 points in 3 consecutive calendar year up to 1 year

Drivers 21 and older
12 demerit points in 1 calendar year up to 3 months
18 demerit points in two consecutive calendar years up to 6 months
24 demerit points in three consecutive calendar years up to 1 year

For further information or a class near you please contact the Traffic Safety Institute by calling 1-800-332-3748 or check the web site at www.nhtrafficsafety.com.