Guide to the Kentucky Point System
For Kentucky drivers, points on your driving record can mean the difference between hitting the road carefree, or working to earn back your driving privileges. Even if you haven’t gotten a traffic ticket recently, it’s important to understand how the point system works in Kentucky, and what steps you can take to keep your driving record in good standing.
How the Point System Works
The traffic ticket point system is designed to encourage good driving behavior while identifying negligent drivers.
The day you get your drivers license your record is completely clear — you have zero points. Every time you are convicted of a traffic violation, points are added to your driving record. According to Kentucky law, your driver history is maintained for 5 years by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. Points that have been added to your driving record will be removed 2 years from the date of your conviction. However, the ticket itself will remain on your record for the full 5-year duration. In addition, 3-year driving records are maintained and are available for review by insurance companies.
Summary of Point Values
The good news is, if you are pulled over for driving 10 MPH or less above the posted speed limit, you might get a ticket, but you won’t get any points added to your record. This particular violation has a zero point value. Most common violations in Kentucky could earn you between 3 – 6 points. Here is a quick summary of some of the most common violations and their associated points:
- 3 Points: Speeding 11-15 MPH, Failure to Yield, Stop Violation (traffic signal, railroad crossing, stop sign), Careless Driving, Improper Lane Usage
- 4 Points: Reckless Driving, Following Too Closely, Changing Drivers in a Motor Vehicle, Out of Control Vehicle
- 5 Points: Improper Passing
- 6 Points: Speeding 16-25 MPH, Failure to Stop For a School Bus, Committing 2 or More Violations at Once
Avoiding License Suspension
If you rack up 12 points on your driving record within a 24-month period, you could face a hearing and a possible license suspension. Multiple points on your record could cause other problems, too, such as increased auto insurance rates. Getting a bunch of traffic tickets is not the only way you could lose your driving privileges, either. If you are pulled over for any of the following, you can count on a court hearing, and you could lose your license:
- Exceeding the speed limit by 26 MPH or over
- Attempting to elude a police officer
- Racing
So what can you do to keep points off your record? If the court approves, drivers can take Kentucky traffic school once a year to have a traffic ticket dismissed from their 3-year public driving record, and the points associated with that ticket will be removed completely.
Check the Status of Your License
If you think you might be at risk of losing your license, you should contact your local Kentucky court and request a copy of your driving record. In addition, if you’ve taken a Kentucky traffic school class recently, you should review your record to ensure that the ticket and points were removed according to state law. If you find any issues with your 3- or 5-year driving record, you should contact the court immediately to prevent an unnecessary insurance hike.
