Having your driver’s license suspended can be a major inconvenience. Understanding West Virginia’s point system and how many points it takes to trigger a suspension can help drivers avoid reaching the suspension threshold.
West Virginia’s Point System
West Virginia uses a point system to track driving offenses and issue penalties. Different traffic violations carry different point values. If a driver accumulates a certain number of points within a given time period, their license can be suspended.
Here are the main things to know about West Virginia’s point system:
- Points remain on a driver’s record for 2 years from the conviction date.
- Accumulating 12 or more points within 2 years results in a license suspension.
- Points accumulate on an incremental scale based on offense type.
- Serious offenses like DUIs result in immediate suspension without accumulating points.
Point Values for Common Violations
The number of points assessed depends on the type of traffic violation. Here are some common violations and their associated point values in West Virginia:
| Traffic Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1-10 mph over limit | 2 points |
| Speeding 11-15 mph over limit | 3 points |
| Speeding 16-20 mph over limit | 4 points |
| Reckless driving | 6 points |
| Running red light | 3 points |
| Failing to yield right of way | 3 points |
| Using a handheld device while driving | 3 points |
| DUI | License suspended |
As you can see, points add up quickly for multiple minor violations. A few speeding tickets and red light infractions can put someone near the 12-point suspension threshold.
Length of Suspension
The duration of the license suspension depends on how many total points triggered the suspension:
- 12-15 points = 30 days
- 16-17 points = 90 days
- 18+ points = 6 months
So going just a few points over the 12-point threshold leads to a 30-day suspension. But racking up 18+ points results in a 6-month suspension, which is a major hardship.
Additional Ways to Suspend a License
Aside from accumulating points, West Virginia can immediately suspend someone’s license for certain serious violations without going through the point system. These include:
- DUI – Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs results in an immediate administrative license suspension. The suspension period depends on prior offenses.
- Reckless driving – Reckless driving triggers an immediate administrative suspension, plus 6 points.
- Fleeing police – Fleeing or eluding police also causes an immediate suspension.
- Too many at-fault accidents – Being deemed at-fault in 3 accidents within 2 years prompts a suspension.
- Too many moving violations – Accumulating 4 moving violations within 2 years also leads to suspension.
In these cases, the suspension occurs right away at the time of the incident. The person doesn’t get to keep driving and rack up points past these thresholds.
Suspension for Young Drivers
West Virginia has stricter rules and lower point thresholds for suspending licenses of younger drivers under age 18. Here are the juvenile point thresholds:
- 6-11 points = 60 days
- 12-17 points = 90 days
- 18+ points = 6 months
Because young drivers are considered higher risk, their licenses get suspended much quicker. Parents should be aware of these lower point limits to help teens avoid suspensions.
Point Reduction Opportunities
West Virginia does allow drivers to reduce their points balance by completing certain courses. These include:
- Traffic school – Completing traffic school reduces points by 3.
- Defensive driving course – Taking an approved defensive driving course cuts points by 4.
- Maturity driving program – For drivers under 18, this class reduces points by 3.
Drivers can utilize these options once every 2 years. The point reduction helps offset points received for violations during that period. However, the original citation and offense remains on the driver’s record.
Points Remain on Record
It’s important to note that points stay on a driver’s record for 2 years from the date of conviction even after a license suspension occurs. The DMV reinstates the license after the suspension period ends. But if the driver continues to accumulate points, they could trigger another suspension if they hit 12 points again within 2 years.
To fully clear their record, drivers need to go 2 years without any new violations so the initial points roll off their record. A new suspension can occur within 2 years if points aren’t managed carefully.
Insurance Impacts
License suspensions also carry insurance consequences. West Virginia law allows insurance providers to increase policy premiums or cancel policies based on a suspension.
Typically, insurance rates go up 25% or more after a suspension. And some insurers may drop customers considered high risk after a suspension takes effect. Maintaining coverage gets much more expensive.
Reinstatement Requirements
To get a license reinstated after a suspension, West Virginia drivers must:
- Pay a $50 reinstatement fee
- Pay any other outstanding DMV fees
- Provide proof of valid insurance
- Meet other reinstatement requirements if convicted of DUI
Clearing these hurdles allows the license to be fully reinstated. For suspensions due to points, driving privileges are restored after completing the suspension period and meeting the requirements above.
Habitual Offender Law
West Virginia also has a “habitual offender” law to deal with drivers who repeatedly commit violations and accumulate points. This law revokes a driver’s license for the following thresholds within a 10-year period:
- 10 points with 2+ serious offenses like reckless driving
- 12 points with 1 serious offense
- 14-17 points
- 18+ points
The revocation period is 10 years if convicted as a habitual offender. This law demonstrates the progressive penalties for those who fail to improve their driving and continue to accumulate points and violations.
Conclusion
Reaching 12 points within 2 years almost always leads to a license suspension in West Virginia. The suspension length increases at higher point levels. Young drivers have lower point thresholds before suspensions occur. Completing driving courses can reduce points somewhat, but violations stay on a record for 2 years.
Suspensions should be avoided since they disrupt driving abilities and increase insurance costs. Knowing the points associated with common violations, as well as the thresholds that trigger suspensions, can help West Virginia drivers manage their records effectively. Being aware of the steeper penalties for repeat offenses under the habitual offender law is also critical.
Driving carefully, obeying traffic laws, and avoiding violations are the best ways to steer clear of license suspensions and maintain driving privileges on West Virginia’s roads.
