Michigan Driver's License Point System

If you are facing a civil infraction, misdemeanor or felony you will also be facing the possibility of acquiring points on your license. Whether you are facing a charge of reckless driving, careless driving, disobeying a traffic signal, refusal to take a chemical test, or 10 mph or less over the legal speed limit, you will want to work with an experienced driver’s license attorney who understands how the law affects your driver’s license and your life. Our driver's license reinstatement attorneys will fight alongside you to prevent suspensions and revocations due to the point system in Michigan before you lose your license. If you accumulate 12 or more points on your license, it can have a serious impact on your employment, school, and ability to conduct your life. It is imperative that you obtain legal representation before a conviction in these time-sensitive cases to avoid punishment.

Michigan has a comprehensive point system that has been codified in MCL 257.320a. Essentially, Michigan has created a points-based system where each driving related civil infraction, misdemeanor, or felony is assigned a point value based on the seriousness of the offense. The points for each offense are also listed in MCL 257.320a and will be discussed in more detail below. The important thing to keep in mind is that these points matter! You can have your license suspended or revoked for driving under the influence, but you can just as easily have your license suspended or revoked for too many speeding tickets. That is why it is important to keep your driving record clean and to fight each and every speeding ticket and traffic citation. Grabel & Associates understands that it is not just about avoiding a fine, but about keeping your driving record clean so you can stay on the roads legally with a valid license. If you are being charged with a speeding ticket or any other traffic violation, call us before you pay the fine so we can help keep your driving record clean, clear, and free of unnecessary points.

How Many Points are Offenses Worth?

The points assigned to each offense are based off a determination of the seriousness of the offense. The more serious an offense the greater number of points. The easiest way to determine the number of points each offense is worth is to refer to the chart below.

Six points

• Reckless driving
• Fleeing or eluding a police officer
• Operating while under the influence of drugs or liquor
• Unlawful bodily alcohol content of .08 or more
• Refusal to take a evidential chemical test
• Failing to stop and give identification at the scene of a crash
• Manslaughter, negligent homicide, or other felony involving use of a motor vehicle

Four Points

• Operating while visibly impaired
• Drag racing
• Under 21 years of age with any alcohol bodily content
• 16 mph or more over the legal speed limit
• failure to stop at a railroad crossing
• failure to stop for a school bus or for disobeying a school crossing guard.

Two Points:

• 10 mph or less over the legal speed limit
• Open alcohol container in vehicle
• All other moving violations traffic laws

The points will remain there for two years after the date of the incident. Points can accumulate quickly.

Points on Your License: When Do They Become a Problem?

There are three main milestones with the Driver Point System in Michigan. The first occurs if you accumulate four points in any two-year period. If this occurs, then you will get a letter that you have more points than the average driver and need to be careful. Second, if you accumulate eight points at any point in time, you will receive a warning letter that you are closing in on a potential driver’s license reexamination if you do not improve your driving habits. Finally, if a person accumulates between 9 to 12 points, you may receive a notice to go to the Secretary of State for an official driver’s license reexamination. This is the point at which you face the potential of having your driver’s license suspended or revoked. Interestingly, the statute in MCL 257.320a(6) specifies that a person is eligible for a driver’s license reexamination hearing after 9 points. Although both in practice and on the Secretary of State’s website, the hearing typically occurs after 12 points. Some people may also be interested to learn that under MCL 257.320a(5), if a person is convicted of more than one infraction arising from one incident, then only the highest number of points goes on your license.

Suspension by a 1,000 Cuts: Suspension or Revocation Due to Many Points

Getting points on your driver’s license can be a challenge to navigate and fight, because of the nearly endless combinations of ways that can get a person to 12 points and have their license suspended or revoked. If you are facing a manslaughter and a reckless driving charge, then it may seem obvious that both crimes carry six points so you must fight them, but what about one careless driving charge and a fifth speeding ticket? Well, that would put a person at 13 points and they would face suspension or revocation of their license.

Driving offenses with two or three points may not seem serious, but they can add up quickly. The time to fight them is before you pay the ticket. The good news is we have over nineteen years of experience fighting tickets and have a tremendously proven record of success. Sometimes, it may seem like it would be easier just to pay the ticket and get on with your life, but if you fight the ticket, then you can keep the points off your license and avoid more serious consequences in the future. There is a myriad of defenses that we have at our disposal to fight speeding tickets, including the miscalibration of the radar guns, improper motor vehicle stop and a myriad of other creative defenses. Take advantage of the opportunity to fight speeding tickets and to keep points off your license by calling us and winning your hearing.

Fighting Speeding Tickets to Keep Points Off Your License

The first step towards beating a speeding ticket charge is to request a formal hearing. You have ten days from the date of the ticket to request a hearing. Your first goal should be to get the ticket dropped all together with a secondary goal of getting the charge or violation reduced to a zero point ticket or non-abstractable offense. Grabel & Associates has more than nineteen years of experience getting speeding tickets dropped or reduced. Simply put we can help you get a better outcome.

Negotiating With The Prosecutor to Keep Points Off Your License.

Whether you are being charged with a civil infraction, misdemeanor, or felony the points on your license are something that should be considered. There are numerous concerns when facing charges including avoiding jail time, the length of probation, charges on your record, maintaining your driving privileges, and the points that might accumulate on your license. Especially if you are facing jail time, the points on your license might be your last concern. However, points add up fast and can result in a suspension or revocation of your driving privileges; that is why it is so important to hire an experienced attorney who can fight to protect all of your rights and privileges to protect you not only now, but also in the future.

For example, being convicted of Driving While License is Suspended or Driving While License is Revoked is a serious misdemeanor that can result in up to 93 days in jail and a “like period of suspension or revocation.” Most of the time, this means an additional year of suspension or revocation and possible jail time. Additionally, you receive another two points on your license. These points will add up, and move you closer to a point related suspension or revocation. However, if your charge is reduced to a non-abstratable offense then there is no mandatory suspension and no points on your license. This exemplifies why it is so crucial to contact an experienced attorney who knows the law, the judges, and has experience protecting all of your interests.

Grabel & Associates defends clients facing vehicle related charges and any charges that may result in driver’s license points. Our aggressive criminal defense team will help to efficiently achieve your legal goals in any of Michigan’s 83 counties.