Ticket Fines and Penalties in New Hampshire

New Hampshire Traffic Ticket Fines and Costs

Traffic ticket fines, as established by the New Hampshire court, are uniform throughout the state. This means getting cited for failing to obey a stop sign in Portsmouth, will cost the same as it would in Hanover. For questions about your traffic citation's fine amount, call the DMV at (603) 227-4010.

Car Insurance Rate Increase

Increased car insurance rates often follow traffic ticket convictions. You can always counter a rate jump by shopping for a new provider. Comparing vehicle insurance rates online is a great and easy way to find affordable coverage.

Traffic Ticket Penalties

In addition to fines, citations also bring penalties with long-term repercussions. Points and loss of driving privileges are the two most common penalties. The extent of these penalties depends on:

• Driving history and/or past infractions. A second DUI conviction, for example, comes with a longer suspension period.
• License type. Holders of youth operator licenses and CDLs, for example, have less leeway. Read more about this in the sections below.

NH Point System

Traffic tickets come with points, ranging between one and six. The number of points depends on the infraction. The more serious the offense, the more number of points. These points remain on your driving record for three years. The DMV will suspend your license if you amass too many points within a designated period of time.

Drivers Younger Than 18

• Six points in one calendar year―up to three months suspension
• 12 points in two consecutive calendar years―up to six months suspension
• 18 points in three consecutive calendar years―up to one year suspension

Drivers Between 18 and 20 Years Old

• Nine points in one calendar year―up to three months suspension
• 15 points in two consecutive calendar years―up to six months suspension
• 21 points in three consecutive calendar years―up to one year suspension

Drivers 21 Years Old and Up

• 12 points in one calendar year―up to three months suspension
• 18 points in two consecutive calendar years―up to six months suspension
• 24 points in three consecutive calendar years―up to one year suspension

Depending upon your situation, you may be eligible to complete a driver improvement course and have three points removed from your driving record. Read about this option in our Point Reduction page.

New Hampshire License Suspension and Revocation

Should you lose your driving privileges it's to your advantage to know the difference between a suspended license and a revoked license.

Suspended License―The temporary loss of your NH driver's license. After satisfying all reinstatement requirements (fees, possible driver improvement course, etc.) the DMV returns your legal driving privileges.
Revoked License―The termination of your New Hampshire driver's license for a specified period of time. Once your revocation period has ended, you must reapply for a new license, which requires passing the knowledge and road tests again.

Some of the ways you can lose your NH driving privileges include:

• Too many points on your driving record
• DUI
• Leaving the scene of an accident involving injury or death
• Reckless driving
• Being declared a Habitual Offender by the state

You can learn more about license reinstatement on our NH Points page.

New Hampshire Habitual Offender

To be named a habitual offender means the New Hampshire DMV has deemed you to be a safety threat to other drivers. Your driving record and a hearing will decide if your license should be revoked for one to four years.

The DMV will classify you a habitual offender if, over a five year period, you have:

• A combined total of 12 convictions for speeding, yellow line violations or operating without a drivers license
• Three major convictions (DUI, reckless driving, etc.)
• One major conviction and any combination of eight minor convictions (failing to obey a yield sign, driving too closely, etc.)
• Two major convictions and any combination of four minor convictions

Penalties for Drivers Younger Than 18

In addition to adhering to all traffic laws, you must also abide by the restrictions of your license. Violating driving curfew hours, or operating with too many passengers could lead to the loss of your driving privileges.

Penalties for NH Commercial Drivers

You must, by law, notify your employer within 30 days of any traffic violation convictions. This applies to all situations, regardless of state or type of vehicle you were driving when cited.

Citations for commercial drivers come with greater consequences. Not only can traffic tickets hurt the wallet, but also jeopardize your career. You can find a detailed list of violations and penalties on the The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) website.