Rocking out to your favorite song and losing track of your speed? Those red and blue lights behind you aren’t party lights; an officer just saw you blow past them way too fast. In Pennsylvania, PennDOT uses a point system on your license to determine how to treat your traffic infractions. Here’s a little information about how to get a judge to dismiss a speeding ticket.
Fines and Suspension
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation uses an intricate point system to track your driving record. Each infraction adds points, and each following court demand reduces points.
First Six Points
At six points, a written test is required within 30 days to prove your knowledge of safe driving practices, local and state regulations, and other driving-related safety issues. Proof of completion may reduce or dismiss the citation. 
Second Accumulation of Six Points
If your points reduce below 6 points but then rise above again, you will have to appear for a Departmental Hearing. PennDOT will decide the best course of action. Either an on-road safe driving course or a license suspension.
Third (or higher) Accumulation of Six Points
Complying with the sanctioned actions, such as a safe driving course, can reduce your points. When you rise above six points a third (or more times), PennDOT reviews your driving record at a required hearing.
Eleven Point Accumulation
An automatic suspension will occur at eleven or more points on your record. The length of your license suspension depends on previous suspensions.
- 1st: 5 days per point
- 2nd: 10 days per point
- 3rd: 15 days per point
- Further suspensions: 1 year
It’s easy to see how your traffic infractions can build into quite the snowball of issues. Failure to appear for any of your hearing will result in an automatic 60-day suspension.
Speeding Tickets
Citations for more than 31 MPH over posted speeds can gain you some points and possibly other requirements. It could earn you a fine, a suspension, or a safe driving course, and additional points.
PennDOT examines your past driving record at your hearing, and you will receive instructions for further action. You can fight the ticket if you have a previously clean record, can prove fault with the equipment, or human error on the part of the officer. No action guarantees that your citation will be dropped.
Reducing Points
You can have your points reduced from your record for long periods of clean driving. You can earn three removed points for every 12 consecutive months of clean driving. If you keep your record at a zero point baseline for at least 12 months, any future infractions will be considered a first-time incident.
Violations and Jail Time
If you’ve been suspended and are pulled over for driving while suspended, you can face jail time. That’s where we come in. Szar Bail Bonds can help get you out of the jailhouse to await trial. You can read more about our process on our blog.
