Does a DWI in New Jersey Cause Points on Your Driver’s License?
New Jersey motor vehicle offenses carry a wide range of penalties, ranging from driver’s license suspension to jail time. Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a motor vehicle offense under New Jersey law rather than a criminal one, but some penalties can be just as serious as the criminal law system. Like many states, New Jersey uses a points system to assess penalties for many traffic offenses. Accruing too many points in too short a period may result in surcharges, driver’s license suspension, or both. DWI is not among the motor vehicle offenses that add points to your driving record. This is not exactly good news, however, as the penalties associated with DWI are generally harsher than points.
What Are Points?
New Jersey’s points system gives the state a way to assess whether you pose a danger to others on the road. The most minor traffic offenses do not add points to your record. A parking violation, such as forgetting to feed the meter, does not reflect poorly on a person’s ability to drive safely.
Traffic offenses like speeding, failing to yield, or running a red light pose a danger to other drivers and pedestrians. They may result in points on your driving record. For example, the number of points associated with speeding depends on how fast you were going:
– Up to 14 mph over the speed limit: 2 points
– 15 to 29 mph over the limit: 4 points
– 30+ mph over the limit: 5 points
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