The state of Virginia, like most states, uses a point system to assign points for traffic violations to a driver's state driving record. Virginia DMV either assigns positive or negative points on the driving record.

Negative points or demerit points are received from traffic violations. A Positive point is given by the state to drivers with a valid Virginia driver’s license, who maintain a violation free driving record for one full calendar year. You can earn a maximum of five positive points, and these positive points on your record help offset negative points you receive from traffic violations.

Each time you commit a traffic offense, DMV adds additional demerit points to your record. This can add up to big trouble for some drivers. If you have banked safety points it can help you though with the accumulation of demerit points.

Safety driving points are assigned for each full calendar year that you hold a valid Virginia driver’s license and drive without any violations or suspensions. In some cases, you may also earn safe driving points by completing a driver improvement clinic. You can accumulate a total of five safe driving points and you may use these safe driving points to offset demerit points.

For example if you for five years you have followed all the safe driving rules and not received any tickets you would accumulate a safe driving point each year, for a total of five points. If then one day you run a red light the VA DMV would assign four demerit points to your driving record. However, since you had earned five safe driving points, you would end up with one safe driving point left on your record.

Offenses in Virginia are usually assigned 3, 4 or 6 demerit points so you must have been convicted of a driving offense but had safety points to help offset some of your demerit points. Negative 2 (-2) is a lot of demerit points however it is always better to have positive points than negative points. 

For a good, clean driving record you would not want any negative points and no moving violations on your driver's history.