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Georgia driving lesson · Losing Your Driving Privileges

The points system

A 3-minute lesson from the Georgia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Losing Your Driving Privileges
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
48, 49

Most moving violations add points to your record, and too many points in a set period suspends your license. Georgia also lets you remove points once every five years with a defensive driving course.

Points per violation (1 of 2)

Points per violation (1 of 2)
ViolationPoints
Hands-Free Law, 1st conviction1
Child restraint 1st; HOV lane 4th or later1
Hands-Free Law 2nd; open alcohol container2
Speeding 15-18 mph over the limit2
Child restraint 2nd or later; unsecured load2
Hands-Free 3rd or more; impeding traffic3
Disobeying a traffic control device or officer3
Speeding 19-23 over; all other moving violations3
Handbook p. 48 ↗

Points per violation (2 of 2)

Points per violation (2 of 2)
ViolationPoints
Reckless driving4
Improper passing on a hill or curve4
Speeding 24-33 mph over the limit4
Aggressive driving6
Speeding 34 mph or more over the limit6
Unlawful passing of a school bus6
Handbook p. 48 ↗

Your Georgia license is suspended if:

  • You get 15 or more points within 24 months
  • You're under 21 and convicted of any 4-point violation
  • You're under 18 and get 4 points within 12 months
Handbook p. 49 ↗

Know the rule

The date of the violation (not the conviction) starts the 24-month or 12-month period. After a points suspension, your point total goes back to zero.

Handbook p. 49 ↗

Know the rule

Georgia residents get points for out-of-state violations that would carry points in Georgia.

Handbook p. 49 ↗

Know the rule

Points reduction: licensed Georgia residents who complete a certified 6-hour driver improvement (defensive driving) course and send DDS the original certificate can have up to 7 points removed, once every 5 years.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
7 points

Maximum points removed by a defensive driving course, once every 5 years

Handbook p. 49 ↗

Know the rule

Points avoidance: complete the 6-hour course after a moving-violation citation and before court (or as ordered). The court cuts the fine by 20% and assesses no points; allowed once every five years.

Handbook p. 49 ↗

Put it into practice

Over 20 months you get a 4-point, a 6-point and a 3-point ticket: 13 points. One more 3-point ticket before the 24 months end brings you to 16 and a suspension. A defensive driving course first could remove up to 7 points.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

How many points accumulated within 24 months will result in a Georgia license suspension?
  1. 20 or more points
  2. 8 or more points
  3. 10 or more points
  4. 15 or more points

Answer: 15 or more points

A Georgia license is suspended for any person who accumulates 15 or more points within 24 months.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
How many points within 12 months will suspend the license of a driver under 18?
  1. 10 or more points
  2. 2 or more points
  3. 4 or more points
  4. 6 or more points

Answer: 4 or more points

A driver under 18 faces suspension after accumulating 4 or more points within 12 months.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
Up to how many points may a licensed Georgia resident have removed by completing an approved defensive driving course?
  1. 7 points
  2. 3 points
  3. 15 points
  4. 10 points

Answer: 7 points

Georgia residents may request DDS reduce up to 7 points by completing a certified 6-hour defensive driving course.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
How often may a driver use the points-reduction defensive driving course to lower their point total?
  1. Once every year
  2. Once every 2 years
  3. Once every 5 years
  4. As many times as they want

Answer: Once every 5 years

Points reduction via a defensive driving course is limited to once every 5 years.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
How many points are assessed for aggressive driving or speeding 34 mph or more over the limit?
  1. 6 points
  2. 2 points
  3. 4 points
  4. 3 points

Answer: 6 points

The points chart lists aggressive driving and speeding 34+ mph over the limit as 6-point offenses (reckless driving is 4).

Handbook p. 48 ↗
What happens to a driver's point total once their license is suspended for accumulating points?
  1. Half the points are removed automatically
  2. The points are permanently frozen at the suspension level
  3. The points stay for another 24 months
  4. The point total is restored to zero

Answer: The point total is restored to zero

When a license is suspended due to point accumulation, the point total is restored to zero.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
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