Roadwise States Indiana Driving lessons Habitual Traffic Violators Indiana driving lesson · Points, Suspensions & Insurance
Habitual Traffic Violators A 3-minute lesson from the Indiana course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Points, Suspensions & Insurance
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 30, 31 Indiana labels repeat offenders Habitual Traffic Violators (HTV). The BMV looks back over a 10-year period. The suspension runs from five years to life, depending on how serious the offenses were.
Habitual Traffic Violator (HTV) A driver who has repeatedly committed traffic offenses over a 10-year period, meeting the statute's criteria summarized in Sections A, B, and C.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ Section A offenses (resulting in injury or death): Reckless homicide from operating a motor vehicle Voluntary or involuntary manslaughter from operating a motor vehicle Failing to stop at an accident with injury or death to give information and assistance Operating while intoxicated resulting in death Operating with a BAC of .08 or more resulting in death Handbook p. 30 ↗ Know the rule
Before June 30, 2001, two judgments for OWI resulting in death, or for a BAC of .10 percent (210 liters of breath) or more resulting in death, also meant a lifetime suspension.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ Section B major offenses (three in 10 years = 10-year suspension): Driving while intoxicated or with a BAC of .08 percent or more Before June 30, 2001: operating with a BAC of .10 percent (210 liters of breath) or more Before July 1, 1997: OWI resulting in death, or BAC .10 percent or more Reckless driving Criminal recklessness as a felony involving a motor vehicle Drag racing or an illegal speed contest Leaving the scene of an accident, or not notifying authorities when required Resisting law enforcement under IC 35-44.1-3-1 Any felony under a motor vehicle statute, or with vehicle operation as an element Any Section A offense Handbook p. 31 ↗ Section C: 10+ violations in 10 years, with one being a Section A or B offense or: Driving while suspended/revoked for convictions under IC 9-24-19-2 or 9-24-19-3 (or older repealed laws) Operating a motor vehicle without ever having obtained a driver's license Handbook p. 31 ↗ Know the rule
A person convicted of driving while suspended as an HTV may have other driving privileges suspended for a period the court sets.
Handbook p. 31 ↗ Put it into practice
In 10 years a driver collects nine speeding tickets and one reckless driving conviction. That's 10 violations, and one is a major offense, so the driver is an HTV under Section C with a five-year suspension.
A useful reminder HTV counts: Section A = 2 judgments, Section B = 3, Section C = 10 (including 1 major).
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 judgments resulting in injury or death within 10 years lead to a 10-year HTV suspension? Two One Three Five Answer: Two
An HTV who accumulates two judgments resulting in injury or death within 10 years faces a 10-year suspension.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ What happens if a driver accumulates two OWI convictions resulting in death within a 10-year period? A 10-year suspension is imposed Driving privileges are suspended for life A 5-year suspension is imposed A 2-year suspension is imposed Answer: Driving privileges are suspended for life
Two judgments for OWI resulting in death within 10 years results in a lifetime suspension.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ Under HTV Section B, how many major offenses (like OWI or reckless driving) within 10 years bring a 10-year suspension? Two Four Three Five Answer: Three
Accumulating three judgments from the major-offense list within 10 years triggers a 10-year suspension.
Handbook p. 30 ↗ How many total traffic violations in a 10-year period (with at least one major offense) trigger a 5-year HTV suspension? 5 or more 15 or more 3 or more 10 or more Answer: 10 or more
A person with 10 or more traffic violations in 10 years, including one major offense, faces a 5-year suspension.
Handbook p. 31 ↗ What example does the handbook give for a driver reaching HTV status under Section C? Ten total speeding tickets and zero other violations within 10 years Two separate OWI convictions resulting in injury within a 10-year period Nine speeding tickets and one reckless driving conviction in 10 years Three separate reckless driving convictions within a single 10-year period Answer: Nine speeding tickets and one reckless driving conviction in 10 years
The handbook gives the example of a person with nine speeding tickets and one reckless driving conviction in 10 years.
Handbook p. 31 ↗ Only convictions for accidents involving injury or death count toward HTV status. True False Answer: False
HTV status can also result from an accumulation of 10 traffic violations, including one major offense, in 10 years.
Handbook p. 31 ↗ Previous lesson OWI & other suspensions Next lesson Driver records, reinstatement & special privileges More in Points, Suspensions & Insurance About the source Roadwise’s Indiana course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 30, 31. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
For current application requirements, fees, appointments, and the format that applies to your age or license type, check Indiana’s BMV. Roadwise provides study material and does not issue permits or licenses.