"Points" are demerits placed against your driver's license every time you're convicted of certain traffic violations. If you reach six points, a warning will be automatically issued to you from the BMV. If you get 12 points or more, your license will be suspended.

Points are cumulative, but they are erased one year after your conviction for the traffic offense that earned them.

Top Demerit Point Suspensions

If you've received a demerit point license suspension, the standard suspension length is up to 15 days. You are entitled to ask for a hearing. The Maine BMV will give you a chance to tell your side, and you may be represented by an attorney.

After hearing your case, the hearing office can then continue, modify, or rescind the initial action. If you don't like that result, you can appeal the decision to the superior court.

Top Violation-free Credit System

If you're a good driver, it's possible to rack up credit points against any potential demerits. It's called the Violation-free Credit System, and it works like this:

You can obtain one credit point for each year that you have no moving violation convictions or license suspensions, up to four years. So if you get assessed four demerit points from a moving violation and you have a four-point credit, you end up with zero demerit points. (The conviction will still appear on your driving record, however.)

You can only use credit points once within a 12-month period. You can also get a credit of up to three points for successful completion of the Maine Driving Dynamics course. This course is administered by the Bureau of Highway Safety.

Top Effects on Insurance

Can demerit points affect insurance rates? Yes, in some cases. It depends on the insurance company and whether they obtain demerit point standings on drivers insured by the company. Some companies do, while others simply keep track of your traffic convictions and apply their own demerit point systems.

Top Demerit Point Schedule

Here's how you can rack up demerit points in Maine:

• Six points:

• Driving on wrong side of road

• Driving wrong way on one-way street

• Exceeding posted speed by at least 15 mph but less than 30 mph

• Illegal transportation, possession, or consumption of liquor in a motor vehicle by a minor

• Illegal transportation of drugs in a motor vehicle by a minor

• Improper passing

• Leaving the scene of an accident with property damage

• Operating beyond license restrictions

• Operating with improper license

• Operating without corrective lenses

• Operating left on curve

• Other improper passing

• Passing within 100 feet of intersection

• Passing on curve or hill

• Passing on right

• Passing on wrong side

• Using false ID to obtain liquor

• Violating Do Not Pass

• Violation of instruction permit

• Operating motorcycle beyond restriction

• Four points:

• Exceeding posted speed by less than 15 mph

• Excessive acceleration

• Failure to keep right

• Failure to return to right

• Failure to yield to emergency vehicle

• Failure to yield (no sign)

• Failure to yield to pedestrian

• Failure to yield (sign)

• Failure to give way to other vehicle

• Failure to obey stop sign

• Failure to stop at red light

• Failure to yield right of way

• Imprudent driving

• Operating with an obstructed view

• Operating without a license (traffic infraction)

• Red light operation

• Two points:

• Crossover violation

• Displaying a blue light

• Displaying a red light

• Excessive noise

• Failure to dim headlights

• Failure to signal

• Failure to obey traffic island

• Failure to reduce speed for a grade or curve

• Following too closely

• Illegal left turn

• Illegal right turn

• Illegal U-turn

• Impeding the flow of traffic

• Improper turn

• Lane conviction

• Littering

• Obstructing the flow of traffic

• Obstructing traffic

• Operating a motor vehicle without tail lights

• Operating without lights

• Other moving violations

• Speed under posted minimum

• Squealing tires

• Trailer without lights

• Trucks traveling less than 150 feet apart

Top Checking the Status of Your License

Whenever you need or want to check the status of your driver’s license, you can order a driving record report.

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