The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) maintains a driving record for every licensed driver in Pennsylvania. Points are added to a driving record when a driver is found guilty of certain moving violations. The purpose of the point system is to help to improve driving habits and to ensure safe driving. PennDOT begins to take corrective action when a driving record reaches 6 or more points.

If you are under the age of 18 your driving privilege will be suspended in PA if you accumulate six (6) or more points or is convicted of driving 26 miles per hour or more over the posted speed limit. The first suspension will be for a period of 90 days. Any additional occurrences will result in a suspension of 120 days.

This type of suspension is in addition to the requirements of the point system in place for all drivers. The PennDOT points fact sheet notes that when any driving record reaches 6 or more points for the first time, the driver will receive a written notice to take a special written point examination. The examination will address:

1. Knowledge of Safe Driving Practices,
2. Knowledge of Departmental Sanctions, and
3. Knowledge of Related Safety Issues.

The driver has 30 days to successfully pass the exam or else the license will be suspended until the exam is passed. If the exam is passed within the 30 day period, 2 points will be removed from the driving record.

For a second accumulation of 6 points there are additional penalties. PennDot notes that when any driving record is reduced below 6 points and then for a second time reaches 6 or more points, the driver will have to attend a Departmental Hearing. The driver will receive a written notice of the specific time and location of the required hearing. At the hearing, a hearing examiner will review the driver's record. After the hearing, the Department may recommend one or more:

1. Order a 15 Day License Suspension,
2. Order the Driver to Take a Special On-Road Driver's Examination, or
3. Take No Action.

If a person's driving privilege is suspended or a special driver's exam is recommended, 2 points will be removed from the driving record if the driver passes the exam within 30 days or 2 points will be removed once the 15 day suspension has been served. No points are removed from the driving record if the Department does not initiate a sanction. Failure to attend this Departmental Hearing will result in a 60 day license suspension.

There are penalties for third or more accumulation of 6 points. PennDOT states that when any driving record is reduced below 6 points and for the third or subsequent time reaches 6 or more points, the driver will have to attend a Departmental hearing. The hearing examiner will review the driving record. The Department will then determine if a 30 day license suspension will be initiated. Failure to attend this Departmental hearing will result in the suspension of the driver's license until the driver attends the hearing.

When any driving record reaches 11 or more points the PA DMV notes that the driver's license will automatically be suspended. The length of suspension depends on how many times the license was suspended in the past. The suspension schedule is as follows:

1. First Suspension - 5 days per point
2. Second Suspension - 10 days per point
3. Third Suspension - 15 days per point
4. Subsequent Suspensions - One year

Points can get removed from your PA driving record. Three (3) points are removed from a driving record for every 12 consecutive months a person drives (from the date of the last violation) without a violation which results in points, license suspension or revocation. Once a driving record is reduced to zero and remains at zero points for 12 consecutive months, any further accumulation of points is treated as the first accumulation of points.

As you are likely aware being convicted of a citation for failing to stop at a stop sign is 3 points. So you received 3 point from each stop sign ticket, however if you have had 12 months without any moving violation convictions being placed on your PA driving record since the first citation than you should have already lost the first 3 points according to our calculations.

You can contact PennDOT to find out how many points you have on your current motor vehicle record. The can also tell you more about penalties you may receive if you accumulate too many points.

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