The Montana Point System Explained: How to Keep Your Driving Record Clean

When you get your Montana driver's license, you also receive a clean driving record. Keeping it that way is one of your most important responsibilities. To encourage safe driving and identify high-risk drivers, the Montana Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) uses a demerit point system.

Understanding this system from the moment you get your license is crucial. Every time you are convicted of a moving violation, points are added to your record. If you accumulate too many points, you will face mandatory driver improvement programs and the suspension of your license.

How the Montana Point System Works

The concept is straightforward: the state assigns a point value to different moving violations. The more serious the offense, the more points you receive. When you pay a ticket or are found guilty in court, the MVD adds those points to your driving record. The MVD will take action based on the number of points you accumulate within a three-year (36-month) period.

Point Values for Common Montana Traffic Violations

It's essential to know which actions carry the most weight. Here are the point values for some of the most common violations in Montana:

• 2 Point Violations:

  • Speeding (1-10 mph over the limit)
  • Most other minor moving violations.

• 3 Point Violations:

  • Speeding (11-20 mph over the limit)
  • Failure to obey a stop sign or traffic light

• 4 Point Violations:

  • Speeding (21-30 mph over the limit)

• 5 Point Violations:

  • Reckless driving
  • Following too closely

• 6 Point Violations:

  • Failure to stop for a school bus

• 10 Point Violations:

  • Leaving the scene of an accident

• Major Offenses:

  • Driving Under the Influence (DUI): A conviction for DUI results in an immediate and mandatory license suspension that operates outside the standard point system.

The Consequences of Accumulating Points

The MVD takes progressive action as you accumulate points.

• Warning Letter: If you accumulate several points in a short period, the MVD may mail you a Warning Letter. This is your first official notice that you are accumulating points and are at risk of further action.

• At 12 Points: This is the critical threshold. Once you accumulate 12 points in a three-year period, your driver's license will be suspended. The length of the suspension will depend on your overall driving record.

A Powerful Tool: The Driver Improvement Program

Montana offers a way for some drivers to address their driving habits. If you are facing a suspension for accumulating too many points, you may be given the option to attend a Driver Improvement Program.

• How it Works: By completing the program, you may be able to avoid a suspension.
• The Benefit: This allows you to continue driving, but any further violations will result in a suspension.

How to Keep Your Record Clean

1. Drive Safely: The most effective method is to avoid getting tickets in the first place by obeying all traffic laws.
2. Understand GDL Laws: For teens, violating your driving restrictions is a moving violation that will add points to your record.
3. Attend a Driver Improvement Program: If you are given the option by the MVD, attending the program is a smart way to keep your license.

Your driving record is a direct reflection of your choices behind the wheel. By understanding the Montana point system, you can make informed decisions that will keep your record clean and keep you safe on the road.