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California · Rules

California points and license suspensions

Points turn tickets into consequences. Knowing where the lines are, and how fast you can reach them, is part of keeping the license you just earned.

Checked Oct 11, 2026 · official sources linked

13 rules · 8 written-test points

Key points, in our words

All the rules, in our words

Tags show the kind of rule and whether it’s a written-test point or matters on the drive test (our tagging). Each rule links to its official source.

  1. Signing a traffic ticket is a promise to appear in court. Failing to appear goes on your record, and DMV may suspend your license until you do.

    Changed 2027-01-01: From 2027-01-01, DMV no longer suspends a license for missing a traffic court date, and suspensions already in place for that end on that day (AB 2746). Willfully breaking your promise to appear is still a misdemeanor. The handbook doesn’t mention this change. California bill AB 2746 (2021-22)

    Law Written test California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

  2. An adult can be suspended as a negligent driver at 4 points in 12 months, 6 in 24 months, or 8 in 36 months; DMV may also impose probation or revocation.

    New York differs: DMV counts points by the date of the violation. Reach 11 or more points within 24 months and your license may be suspended. New York rule

    Law Written test California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

  3. For a one-point ticket, a judge may let you attend traffic violator school, once per 18 months, so the citation isn’t reported to your insurer, though it stays on your record.

    DMV process Written test California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

  4. DMV revokes the license of anyone convicted of a hit-and-run in which someone was injured, or of reckless driving that injured someone; courts can also suspend driving privileges.

    Changed 2025-01-01: Since 2025 police may impound a car used to block a road or parking lot for a sideshow without arresting the driver, keep a car used for an exhibition of speed in a parking lot for up to 30 days, and get court orders to impound cars used in speed contests (AB 1978, AB 2186, AB 3085); a sideshow is also called a street takeover (AB 2807). From 2027 penalties for exhibitions of speed at a sideshow go up, including mandatory jail time, and injuring someone can be a felony (AB 1588). From 2029 a court may suspend the license for 90 days to 6 months (AB 3 of 2021, delayed from 2025-07-01 by SB 128). The handbook doesn’t say this yet. California bill AB 1978 (2023-24)

    Law Written test California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

  5. To contest a proposed DMV action, ask for a hearing no later than 10 days after being served or 14 days after the notice was mailed, or the right is lost.

    DMV process California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

  6. Fleeing police in a vehicle is a misdemeanor with up to a year in county jail, and an unlicensed driver caught in your car can get it impounded for 30 days.

    Law Written test California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

  7. DMV may reexamine a driver because of a physical or mental condition or a poor driving record, never age alone, and may require tests, limit, suspend, or take no action.

    DMV process California Driver Handbook: Driver Safety

  8. A Notice of Priority Reexamination from police gives you five working days to reach DMV; miss that window and your license is suspended automatically.

    DMV process California Driver Handbook: Driver Safety

  9. DMV may restrict a license, for example requiring corrective lenses, hand controls, or extra mirrors, or banning night or freeway driving, based on ability rather than age.

    DMV process California Driver Handbook: Driver Safety

  10. Doctors must report patients 14 or older to DMV when a condition, such as lapses of consciousness, could affect safe driving.

    Law California Driver Handbook: An Introduction to Driving

  11. If someone is seriously hurt while you flee police, a conviction can mean up to seven years in state prison (or up to a year in county jail); a manslaughter conviction for a death during the pursuit brings 4 to 10 years in state prison.

    Law Written test California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

  12. Reckless driving or a speed contest that injures someone can lead to imprisonment, a fine, or both.

    Law Written test California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

  13. Convictions for traffic violations, and collisions, remain on your driving record for 36 months or more, depending on the type of conviction.

    Law Written test California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

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Sample questions

3 of our 16 practice questions for this chapter, with explanations. The rest are in the app.

Sample question 1/3

A driver tries to get away from a police car that is signaling her to pull over. No one is hurt. What is this, according to the handbook?

  1. Only a traffic ticket with a fine
  2. A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in county jail
  3. Not a crime unless she actually gets away
  4. A felony with a required state prison term
Show answer

Answer: B. A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in county jail

Using a vehicle to flee or try to evade police is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in county jail. Trying counts, whether or not she gets away, and the penalty can be jail, not just a fine. State prison terms come in when someone is seriously injured or killed in the pursuit.

California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

Sample question 2/3 Common mistake

Two years ago you were convicted of running a red light, and you paid the fine right away. Is the conviction still on your driving record?

  1. Yes: convictions stay on the record for 36 months or longer
  2. No: it came off after 12 months
  3. No: paying the fine removed it
  4. Only if you’ve had another ticket since
Show answer

Answer: A. Yes: convictions stay on the record for 36 months or longer

Traffic convictions remain on your driving record for at least 36 months, longer for some types, so at two years it’s still there. Paying the fine doesn’t take it off, and the handbook doesn’t tie the period to later tickets.

California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

Sample question 3/3

For adult drivers, DMV can suspend a license once the driving record reaches certain point totals. Which of these is one of those thresholds?

  1. 2 points in 12 months
  2. 3 points in 24 months
  3. 5 points in 36 months
  4. 4 points in 12 months
Show answer

Answer: D. 4 points in 12 months

An adult can be suspended as a negligent driver with 4 points on the record within 12 months. That’s because piling up points that fast signals unsafe driving. The same suspension rule applies to 6 points within 24 months or 8 within 36 months, and DMV may also place the driver on probation or revoke the license.

California Driver Handbook: Laws and Rules of the Road (cont. 2)

13 more practice questions for this chapterKeep practicing in Roadfeel

Sources

Restated in our own words from the California Driver Handbook (DL 600, rev. 6/2025) and dmv.ca.gov. The handbook is licensed CC BY-NC 4.0, which bars commercial reuse, so we don’t reproduce it; we quote short phrases and link to it.

All 5 sources for this page

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