Points on your license
California Vehicle Code (VC) violations & points on your license
On this page you will find an introduction to the California DMV point system, and a list showing how many points each California VC violation puts on your driver's license.
To learn how to remove points from your license, how to save your license from suspension, and why we recommend you fight your ticket, see California DMV Point System - save your license.
4 Points and your drivers license is suspended
California DMV point system & Negligent Operator
The California DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) has a point system concerning drivers' licenses. If you get :-
- 4 points in one year
- 6 points in two years
- or 8 points in three years
then the California DMV will want to suspend your license for 6 months for being a negligent operator, a driver with too many points.
How do you get points on your license?
If you get pulled over by a police officer and he writes you a ticket for a Moving Violation you now face a point going on your driver's license record.
Moving Violations
A Moving Violation is any violation of the law committed by the driver of a car while it is in motion. Moving Violations put points on your license.
Non-moving Violations
Parking tickets, fix-it tickets concerning the car equipment like broken lights, tinted windows or no front plate or paperwork violations relating to insurance or registration do NOT put points on your license. Talking on the cell phone does NOT put a point on your license.
Examples of Points
If you cause an accident you will most likely get a point on your record. In addition if you get a DUI, Hit & Run, Driving on a suspended license or get caught driving over 100 mph, etc. you face two points going on your license. The California DMV will put a point on your record if they find out about an out of state traffic ticket you got.
What to do about Points on your License
See California DMV Point System - save your license to learn more about the Points System, how to remove points from your license, how to save your license from suspension, and why we recommend you fight your ticket.
Point Count - California Vehicle Code (VC) Violations
(See also Points for Out of State violations)
|
Section
|
Violation
|
Points on your license |
|
VC 14601,14601a,14601 b, |
Two points | |
| VC 14601.5 |
Driving, suspended/revoked for refusing test |
One point |
| VC 14603 |
Violation of license restrictions |
One point |
|
VC 20001, 20001a 20002, 20002a, 20002b |
Hit and run/injury/property damage |
Two points |
| VC 21100.3 |
Disregarding traffic officer's directions |
One point |
|
VC 21209, 21209a |
Driving in bicycle lane |
One point |
|
VC 21367, 21367a, 21367b, 21367c |
Disobedience to traffic signs/controller |
One point |
|
VC 21451, 21451a, 21451b |
Illegal movement/green light/arrow |
One point |
|
VC 21452, 21452a |
Illegal movement/yellow light/arrow |
One point |
|
VC 21453, 21453a, 21453b, 21453c |
Illegal movement/red/light/arrow |
One point |
|
VC 21454, 21454a - d, 21455 |
Traffic signals |
One point |
|
VC 21457, 21457a, 21457b |
Disobedience to flashing signals |
One point |
|
VC 21460a, 21460b |
Double lines/one broken line |
One point |
| VC 21460.5c |
Use of two-way left turn lane |
One point |
|
VC 21461, 21461a, 21462 |
Disobedience to traffic control device |
One point |
|
VC 21650, 21650a - f |
Keep right |
One point |
|
VC 21651, 21651a |
Crossing divided highway |
One point |
| VC 21651b |
Driving wrong side/divided highway |
Two points |
| VC 21652 |
Entering highway from service road |
One point |
|
VC 21654, 21654a, 21654b, 21655, 21655b |
Lane use/slow moving vehicle |
One point |
| VC 21655.8 |
High-occupancy vehicle lane/entering/exiting |
One point |
|
VC 21656 - 21662, 21662a, 21662b |
Improper lane use |
One point |
| VC 21663 |
Driving on sidewalk |
One point |
| VC 21664 |
Freeway ramp/entering/exiting |
One point |
|
VC 21700 |
Load obstructing driver's view |
One point |
| VC 21701 |
Interfering with driver's control of vehicle |
One point |
|
VC 21702, 21702a, 21702b |
Driving hours limitation |
One point |
|
VC 21703, 21704, 21704a, 21705, 21706 |
Following too closely |
One point |
| VC 21707 |
Driving in fire area |
One point |
| VC 21709 |
Driving in safety zone |
One point |
| VC 21711 |
Towed vehicle swerving |
One point |
|
VC 21712, 21712a, 21712d, 21712f, 21715, 21715a, 21715b |
Unlawful riding/towing |
One point |
| VC 21717 |
Turning across bicycle lane |
One point |
|
VC 21750 - 21757, 21758, 21759 |
Illegal passing |
One point |
|
VC 21800 - 21804, 21804a, 21804b |
Right-of-way |
One point |
|
VC 21805, 21805b |
Yielding right-of-way to horseback rider |
One point |
|
VC 21806, 21806a |
Yielding right-of-way to emergency vehicle |
One point |
| VC 21807 |
Unsafe operation of emergency vehicle |
One point |
|
VC 21950, 21950a, 21951, 21952 |
Yielding right-of-way to pedestrian |
One point |
|
VC 21954, 21954b |
Due care for pedestrian on roadway |
One point |
| VC 21960a |
Prohibited use of freeway |
One point |
| VC 21963 |
Yielding right-of-way to blind pedestrian |
One point |
|
VC 22100 - 22105 |
Turning and U-turns |
One point |
| VC 22106 |
Unsafe starting/backing of vehicle |
One point |
|
VC 22107 - 22111, 22111a, 22111b, 22111c |
Signaling turns and stops |
One point |
|
VC 22112, 22112a |
School bus signaling |
One point |
|
VC 22348, 22348a, 22348c |
Speed/use of designated lanes |
One point |
| VC 22348b | Two points | |
|
VC 22349, 22349.5 |
Maximum speed |
One point |
|
VC 22350, 22351, 22352, 22352a, 22352b |
Basic/prima facie speed limit |
One point |
|
VC 22354, 22355 |
Exceeding posted/freeway speed limit |
One point |
|
VC 22356, 22356b |
Maximum speed 70 mph |
One point |
|
VC 22357, 22358.4 |
Speed in excess of local limits |
One point |
|
VC 22359, 22360, 22361 |
Speed in excess of local limits |
One point |
| VC 22362 |
Speed/construction zone |
One point |
| VC 22363 |
Restricted speed/weather conditions |
One point |
| VC 22364 |
Speed/traffic lanes |
One point |
|
VC 22400, 22400a, 22400b |
Driving too slow |
One point |
|
VC 22405, 22405a |
Speed/bridge/tunnel |
One point |
|
VC 22406, 22407 |
Maximum designated vehicle speed |
One point |
|
VC 22409, 22410 |
Speed/solid/metal tires |
One point |
| VC 22413 |
Speed limit on grades |
One point |
|
VC 22450, 22451, 22452, 22452a, 22452b |
Stop required/railroad crossing |
One point |
| VC 22454 |
Stop for school bus |
One point |
|
VC 23103, 23103a,23103 b |
Reckless driving |
Two points |
|
VC 23104, 23104a |
Reckless driving/causing bodily injury |
Two points |
|
VC 23109, 23109b, 23109d |
Speed contest/aiding or abetting |
One point |
|
VC 23109a, 23109c |
Speed contest /exhibition of speed |
Two points |
|
VC 23116, 23116a |
Transporting person in truck load space |
One point |
| VC 23127 |
Driving on trails and paths |
One point |
|
VC 23140, 23140a, 23140b |
Minor driving with BAC of 0.05% or more |
Two points |
|
VC 23152, 23152a-d |
Two points | |
|
VC 23153, 23153a-d |
Two points | |
| VC 23220 |
Drinking while driving |
One point |
|
VC 23222, 23222a, 23222b |
Marijuana or open container/driving |
One point |
| VC 23235 |
Ignition interlock verification |
One point |
|
VC 23244, 23244b |
Defeating ignition interlock device |
One point |
| VC 23253 |
Disobedience to toll highway officer |
One point |
|
VC 23270, 23270a |
Unauthorized towing |
One point |
|
VC 23330, 23330c |
Width/load of vehicle at crossing |
One point |
| VC 23336 |
Disobedience to sign/vehicle crossing |
One point |
|
VC 24002, 24002a, 24002b |
Unsafe/unlawfully equipped vehicle |
One point |
| VC 24004 |
Operation after notice by officer |
One point |
| VC 24250 |
Lighting equipment |
One point |
|
VC 24409, 24409a, 24409b |
Failure to dim lights |
One point |
| VC 24604 |
Lamps/flag for extended load |
One point |
|
VC 25103, 25103a, 25103b |
Lamps on projecting load |
One point |
|
VC 26301, 26302, 26302a, 26302b, 26302c |
Brakes |
One point |
|
VC 26303, 26304, 26304a, 26304b |
Brakes/combination vehicles |
One point |
| VC 26307 |
Forklift truck brakes |
One point |
|
VC 26311, 26311a, 26311b, 26311c |
All wheel service brakes |
One point |
|
VC 26456, 26457 |
Brakes/stopping distance |
One point |
|
VC 26458, 26458a, 26458.5 |
Braking system/towing vehicles |
One point |
| VC 26502a |
Adjustment/use of air brakes |
One point |
|
VC 26503 - 26506, 26506a, 26507 |
Airbrake system |
One point |
|
VC 26508, 26508a - c, 26508e - k, 26508o |
Emergency stopping system |
One point |
|
VC 26520, 26521, 26522 |
Vacuum brakes |
One point |
|
VC 27360, 27360a - c, 27360.5, 27360a - c |
Child Passenger restraint |
One point |
|
VC 27363, 27363b |
Child seat belt |
One point |
|
VC 27800, 27801, 27801a, 27801b |
Motorcycle/passengers and equipment |
One point |
| VC 2800 |
Disobedience to traffic officer |
One point |
| VC 2800.1 |
Evading peace officer |
One point |
| VC 2801 |
Disobedience to fire official |
One point |
|
VC 2803, 2803a, 2803b, 2803c |
Unsafe vehicle load |
One point |
| VC 2815 |
Disregarding non-student crossing guard |
One point |
| VC 2816 |
Youth bus/children crossing highway |
One point |
| VC 2817 |
Disregarding funeral escort officer |
One point |
| VC 2818 |
Crossing safety flares/cones |
One point |
|
VC 2800.2, 2800.3 |
Evading peace officer/reckless driving |
Two points |
|
VC 29001, 29002 |
Fifth wheel connecting/locking device |
One point |
|
VC 29003a, 29003b, 29003c |
Hitch and coupling device |
One point |
|
VC 29004, 29004a - c, 29006, 29006a |
Towed vehicle coupling |
One point |
| VC 29201 |
Pole dolly/load and length |
One point |
|
VC 31301, 31301a |
Caldecott tunnel restrictions |
One point |
|
VC 31303, 31303b, 31303c, 31303e |
Hazardous waste transportation |
One point |
| VC 31402 |
Farm labor vehicle/unsafe operation |
One point |
|
VC 31540, 31504b |
Removable containers/regulations |
One point |
|
VC 31602, 31602a, 31602b, 31602c |
Explosives transportation |
Two points |
|
VC 31614, 31614a, 3164b, 31614d - f 31614h, 31614i |
Explosives transportation |
One point |
|
VC 32104, 32104a, 32104b, 32105, 32105a, 32105c-e |
Inhalation hazard transportation |
One point |
|
VC 32106, 32106a - d |
Inhalation hazard transportation |
One point |
| VC 34102 |
Tank vehicle regulations |
One point |
|
VC 34501.2, 34501a, 34501c |
Driving hours limitations |
One point |
|
VC 34506, 34506a - g |
Driving hours, equipment, maintenance, operation |
One point |
| VC 34506.3 |
Safety regulation violation |
One point |
|
VC 34509, 34509c, 34509d |
Vanpool vehicle maintenance inspection |
One point |
|
VC 35784, 35784a, 35784b |
Violation of special permit |
One point |
|
VC 35784.5, 35784a, 35784b |
Extralegal load/weight |
One point |
| VC 36400 |
Lift-carrier/speed |
One point |
| VC 36705 |
Bale wagon load width during darkness |
One point |
Other Common California Code Violations
Used In Negligent Operator Count
The following violations can also put points on your license record.
|
Section
|
Code
|
Violation
|
Points
|
| 49307 or 12059 | Education |
Disobedience to school safety patrol |
1 |
|
PC 191.5a, 192c1-192c4, 192.3c, 192.3d |
Penal |
Vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence |
2 |
|
PC 192c, 192.3, 192.3a, 192.3b |
Penal |
Vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence |
1 |
| 27176 |
Streets and highways |
Speeding on Golden Gate Bridge |
1 |
How the Points system works
Go to our California DMV Point System page to learn how the DMV Point System works, how you remove points from your license and how to save your license from suspension.
See also Points for Out of State violations.
We can help
We can help you keep points off your license, and save your license from suspension. Call us to speak to a Los Angeles Traffic Attorney for a free legal consultation regarding your case (310) 285-1516.