Violating New Hampshire driving and traffic laws can result in fines, the suspension of your driving privileges, and even imprisonment. The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Motor vehicles (DMV) uses a demerit point system to track violations and their corresponding penalties. Points are added to your driving record if you receive a traffic ticket for violations.

MOVING VIOLATIONS AND POINTS

Different violations are assigned different point values, which are added to your driving record. For instance, violations like having no registration in the vehicle while driving and failure to obtain a New Hampshire driver's license each carry one point. Failure to produce license for officer, allowing improper person to drive commercial vehicle, using vehicle with no registration each carry two points. Three-point offenses include disobedience to any required traffic control device, abandoned vehicles, following too closely and vehicle turning left. Four-point offenses include improper passing, failure to drive on right hand side of road and driving without proof of financial responsibility. More serious offenses like road racing, transporting drugs, disobeying police officer and taking without owner's consent are assessed six points. The number of points assessed for different speeding violations are as follows:

Exceeding the maximum speed limit by up to 24mph:3 points

Exceeding the maximum speed limit by 25 mph or more: 4 points

View the complete Point Schedule to learn about the number of points associated with each type of moving violation.

PENALTIES

You will be subject to specific penalties if you accumulate a certain number of points on your driving license:

1. You will have your license suspended at different points depending on which age group you belong to:

   For drivers under 18 years of age -    

   6 Points in one calendar year will cause up to 3 months suspension.

   12 Points in two calendar years will cause up to 6 months suspension.

   18 Points in three calendar years will cause up to 1 year suspension.

   For drivers above 19 and below 21 years of age -

   9 Points in one calendar year will cause up to 3 months suspension.

   15 Points in two calendar years will cause up to 6 months suspension.

   21 Points in three calendar years will cause up to 1 year suspension.

   For drivers who are 21 years and above -    

   12 Points in one calendar year will cause up to 3 months suspension.

   18 Points in two calendar years will cause up to 6 months suspension.

   24 Points in three calendar years will cause up to 1 year suspension.

You may be imprisoned for driving with a suspended license.

1. Accumulating points on your driving license is also likely to increase your auto insurance rates. See our auto insurance section for more information about obtaining quality car insurance at competitive rates.
2. The New Hampshire habitual offender law ensures maximum safety and discourages repeated conviction patterns. Being recorded as a habitual offender can be quite bad for you. Here is how the state laws define a habitual offender.

HOW TO CLEAR YOUR DRIVING RECORD

The New Hampshire DMV maintains a record of all the points added to your driving license. However, there are some ways in which you can remove points from your current driving record.

1. Taking a Defensive Driving Course or Driver Improvement Program enables you to deduct three demerit points from your current driving record, and may also qualify you for a reduction in your car insurance rates.

HOW TO DISPUTE A MOVING VIOLATION CHARGE

If you believe you have been incorrectly charged with committing a violation, you may be able to fight the charge in court. See Traffic Tickets and Traffic Ticket Attorneys for more information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Points are not assessed for parking or other non-moving violations.
• See also Driver's Education and Suspended Licenses.