Connecticut
DMV Points vs. Insurance Merit System Points
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The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles misleads motorists when it advises
on the ticket that a plea of guilty avoids an accrual of “points” to
their CT license. While true, it is not the Connecticut DMV points
that are the main concern, but the insurance company’s merit system
points. Accumulation of merit system points cause the insurance increase,
not whatever the CT DMV accrues points to your license. Further, even
if you do not reside in CT your home state insurance company will find
out about the Connecticut moving violation / speeding conviction and
increase your insurance for 3 years. Also, many states such as California,
Illinois and New Jersey do add points to your home state’s license for
Connecticut convictions, which could cause other fines, assessments,
and potential suspensions in and of your home state’s license. |
Insurance
Merit System Points
Each insurance
company has its own proprietary algorithm for its internal merit point system
for their actuarial insurance rates charged to you. Consistent among all insurance
carriers is that they all have what they consider “major” and “minor” merit
system violations, things having nothing to do with traffic violations such
as accidents are merit system violations, and things that may not even accrue
CT DMV points such as aggravated unlicensed operation are still insurance
merit system points.
It is important
to fight a Connecticut speeding ticket or moving violation not to defeat the
DMV points but to avoid an insurance merit point system violation. When considering
the real cost of a CT speeding ticket conviction (a 3 year insurance hike),
our service is cost effective and saves you money. In addition, when you retain
out Connecticut traffic court defense lawyers we also go to court for you
so that you do not have to.
Connecticut DMV
Point Assessment System and Schedule
Connecticut Motor Vehicle Laws § 14-137a-5
contains the point assessment schedule. Under the schedule, points assessed
against a Connecticut driving record are as follows:
One
point for:
CT MV L. § 14-218a: Operating
at unreasonable rate of speed
CT MV L. § 14-219: Speeding
CT MV L. § 14-230: Failure
to drive in right-hand lane
CT
MV L. § 14-230a: Illegal use of limited access highway by certain
vehicles
CT MV L. § 14-236: Improper
operation on multiple-lane highways
CT MV L. § 14-237: Improper
operation on divided highway
CT MV L. § 14-239: Wrong
direction at rotary or one-way street
CT
MV L. § 14-242: Improper turn, illegal turn, illegal stopping,
fail to signal turn
CT MV L. § 14-243: Improper
backing or starting
CT MV L. § 14-244: Failure
to give proper signal
CT MV L. § 14-277: Operator’s
duties on stopping a school bus
CT MV L. § 14-289b: Operation
of motorcycles abreast, illegal passing
CT MV L. § 14-303: Wrong
way on one-way street
Two
points for:
CT MV L. § 14-220: Slow speed,
impeding traffic
CT MV L. § 14-223(a): Disobeying
orders of officer
CT
MV L. § 14-238: Entering or leaving controlled access / limited
access highway at other than designated entrance, exit, intersection or point
CT MV L. § 14-241: Turning
from wrong lane or contrary to traffic control devices
CT MV L. § 14-249: Failure
to obey signal at railroad crossing
CT MV L. § 14-250: Failure
to stop at railroad crossing by certain vehicles
CT MV L. § 14-298: Failure
to observe parkway or expressway restrictions
CT MV L. § 14-299: Failure
to obey traffic control signal light
CT MV L. § 14-301: Failure
to obey stop sign
CT MV L. § 14-302: Failure
to obey yield sign
CT MV L. § 14-304: Operating
a vehicle through pedestrian safety zone
Three
points for:
CT MV L. § 14-227a(b): Driving
while impaired
CT MV L. § 14-231: Failure
to keep to right when meeting opposing traffic
CT MV L. § 14-232: Improper
passing or failure to yield to passing vehicle
CT MV L. § 14-233: Passing
on right
CT MV L. § 14-234: Passing
in no passing zone
CT MV L. § 14-235: Fail to
keep to right on curve, grade, approaching intersection
CT MV L. § 14-240: Failure
to drive reasonable distance apart
CT MV L. § 14-245: Failure
to grant right of way at intersection
CT MV L. § 14-246a: Failure
to grant right of way at junction of highways
CT MV L. § 14-247: Failure
to yield when emerging from driveway or private road
(CT MV L. § 14-247a: Failure
to grant right of way when emerging from driveway
CT MV L. § 14-283: Fail to
grant right of way to ambulance, police or fire apparatus
CT MV L. § 14-300: Failure
to grant right of way to pedestrian
Four
points for:
CT MV L. § 14-224(c): Wagering,
speed record
CT MV L. § 14-240a: Failure
to drive reasonable distance apart, intent to harass
CT MV L. § 14-279: Passing
stopped school bus
Five
points for:
CT MV L. § 14-281a: Operation
of school bus at excessive speed
CT MV L. § 14-222a: Negligent
homicide with a motor vehicle
Suspensions
for Accumulation of Points
Points only accrue to a driving record
upon conviction after a trial, not upon the issuance of a ticket
and not upon a negotiated plea to a lesser charge. Under CT
MV L. § 14-137a-6 points remain on a Connecticut driving record for 24 months.
Under CT MV L. § 14-137a-8 once a 24 month point accrual exceeds 10 the Connecticut
driver’s license or privileges shall be suspended. Under CT MV L. § 14-137a-7
a warning letter is mailed when the motorist accrues 6 or more points within
a 24 month period. In addition, the licensee is entitled to a hearing pre-suspension
on the issue of identity of the licensee and confirming that the licensee
in fact accrued more than 10 points in a two year period.
