Traffic tickets are synonymous with fines, with the amount you must pay based on your offense’s severity. But more than the fines, the state tracks your traffic violations until you hit a certain point where the authorities will have to suspend your license.
But how many violations does it take until officials suspend your license?
The points system
Missouri, like other U.S. states, uses a license points system. When a driver commits a traffic violation and a court serves them a conviction, points go toward the driver’s record – the state Department of Revenue hands out these points to offending drivers.
Each violation has a corresponding point value, such as:
- Speeding: Three points
- Reckless driving: Four points
- Allowing an unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle: Four points
- Committing a felony involving an automobile: 12 points
- Operating a vehicle with a suspended license: 12 points
When you accumulate four points in 12 months, the Department of Revenue will send you a warning notice.
License suspensions and revocations
If you accumulate eight or more points within 18 months, the Department of Revenue will suspend your license. The length of the suspension depends on how many times you’ve been suspended:
- First suspension: 30 days
- Second suspension: 60 days
- Third suspension: 90 days
However, if you collect even more points, the department can revoke your license for one year, requiring you to pay a reinstatement fee to restore it after the period. License revocation happens when the following thresholds occur:
- 12 or more points in 12 months
- 18 or more points in 24 months
- 24 or more points in 36 months
You can file an appeal against a license suspension or revocation at your nearest circuit court. But this process can be tricky to navigate. Consider having a legal professional represent you in court, who can speak on your behalf and negotiate for a modified license if the court pushes through with the suspension or revocation.
