How a Driving Course Can Help Your License in NJ
How can Taking a Driving Course Help Your New Jersey Motor Vehicle Points?
Traffic Defense Lawyers Explain How Points Add Up, How to Reduce, and How to Avoid Them on Your NJ Driving Record
More Points, More Money
New Jersey drivers know that points on their record mean higher insurance premiums. A driver with six or more points pays a three-year insurance surcharge of $150.00 for six points, with each point beyond six adding another $25.00. And 12 or more points lead to a license suspension, a $100.00 restoration fee, and a mandatory MVC facilitated Driver Improvement Program (DIP) costing $150.00 before reinstating a driver’s license on a probationary basis.
The advantage of a driving course is not only the elimination of points and the education on becoming a better driver, but also lower insurance premiums. Those who complete the course have a guarantee of discounted insurance premiums. N.J.S.A. 17:33B-45.1 requires insurers to offer a discount to drivers with completion certification of a Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) approved course.
Top Ways to Lower the Points on Your Driving Record in New Jersey
A driver can do a few things to lower driving record points. One thing to do is drive cautiously and violation-free for a year from the date of the driver’s last violation or the latest license restoration. A driver loses three points from their record after a year without violations or license suspensions. Another way is to take a defensive driving course, which New Jersey offers to anyone to lose up to two points.
Advantages of Completing a Defensive Driving Class
New Jersey offers drivers with motor vehicle points racked up within two years to take a defensive driving course and reduce their driver’s license points, possibly avoiding a license suspension. A defensive driving course is open to anyone and is not mandatory. Anyone wanting to reduce their points from traffic violations may voluntarily take the course. These voluntary programs must be state approved and can be taken online or in a classroom setting. At the conclusion, a driver who completes a defensive driver course may remove points from their driver record and receive other benefits.
A driver taking a DDP can expect to spend six hours reviewing New Jersey traffic laws, rules of the road, driver safety, defensive driving tips, weather preparedness, and proper vehicle maintenance. The program can begin at any time, and the participant works through the material at their pace, taking quizzes to confirm their knowledge and obtain a passing score for each portion of the course. After registering, paying the fees, and completing the study, the driver receives a certificate of completion.
How Completing a Classroom Course in the Driver Improvement Program Helps Your License
The state licenses official providers under its Driver Improvement Program to instruct drivers on the safety of operating a motor vehicle. Completing a DIP eliminates three points from a driver’s record but differs from a defensive driving program. It is not open to anyone. When the MVC sends a letter inviting a driver to take the program, they may take the course after paying the MVC administration fee and the training course fee. Only those who amass between 12 and 14 points in two years can take the class to avoid a 30-day license suspension. The program is repeatable every two years to remove points. And again, the course must be MVC-approved.
Reasons to Take a Probationary Driver Program
A Probationary Driver Program (PDP) requires new drivers under the two-year probationary period to complete a driver program if they accumulate four or more points within those two years, the equivalent of two or more traffic violations. The Probationary Driver Program (PDP) also eliminates three points but is only open to new drivers and only once. Like the DIP, the PDP notification comes via an MVC letter, the driver pays fees to the MVC and the program, and the program must be MVC-approved. However, the MVC orders a driver to take the course when a new driver has two moving violation convictions within the two-year probationary period.
How to Avoid More Points on Your License if You Get Ticketed Again in NJ
Facing expensive insurance surcharges or possible license suspension, you should call a talented New Jersey traffic violation defense attorney to assist you immediately after receiving a ticket or being arrested.
The Best Solution to Avoid Motor Vehicle Points on Your License in NJ?
The experienced motor vehicle violation lawyers at The Tormey Law Firm can help you in many ways. First, we may look at the circumstances of your ticket and inform you that you have defenses to the traffic violation. Our lawyers will conduct the necessary research and investigation to ensure we know all the facts, as we can readily obtain discovery from the prosecutor to understand the evidence supporting the case against you and anticipate any available defenses.
Get a Traffic Attorney’s Help with Your Best Defense
An attorney at our office can represent you in municipal court to fight or reduce the ticket to a lower offense with fewer points. Ideally, we can help you beat the traffic ticket case altogether. However, should the best outcome be a reduced charge to a lesser offense with fewer points, our lawyers can work toward negotiating a plea for a lesser violation; for instance, from reckless driving to careless driving. Contact us now at (201)-556-1570 for help with your traffic offense in New Jersey.
