Traffic Tickets

Driving infractions are recorded on your driving record according to the DMV Point System as a way of controlling unsafe and reckless drivers in West Virginia. Your driver's license can actually be suspended once you have accumulated a certain number of points, and some driving violations go beyond just earning you a ticket and points―they could cause suspension and even mandatory revocation of your license. Check out our Suspended License section for more details.

Moving Violations and Non-Moving Violations

Whether intentional or accidental, there are several mistakes drivers make that often result in costly consequences―tickets and accidents. These include both moving and non-moving traffic violations.

Moving violations include those traffic infractions that occur when a vehicle is in motion; contrarily, non-moving violations include traffic infractions that occur when a vehicle is not in motion.

Moving Violation Examples

• Driving too fast or too slow

• Ignoring or failing to notice road signs and changes in traffic lights

• Not using your turn signals or failing to notice another driver's turn signals

• Driving too close to other vehicles

• Failing to correctly pass or attempting to prevent another driver from passing you

Non-Moving Violation Examples

• Parking in front of a fire hydrant

• Parking in a no-parking zone

• Parking in front of an expired meter

Defensive Driving

Traffic violations lead to tickets and accidents. These can be avoided by learning to drive defensively.

Follow these tips to get into the habit of driving defensively.

• Get rid of negative behavior such as impatience and arrogance. You are not Tony Stewart, nor are you Dale, Jr., and Interstates 64, 77, and 79 are a far cry from the Bristol Motor Speedway.

• Don't slack while driving. Laziness and inattention could cause you to forget certain safety precautions, or prohibit you from noticing the movement of other drivers.

• Pay attention to the elements. High winds, rain, flooding, snow, sleet, hail, fog, and smoke can not only obstruct your vision, but they can also affect the operation and performance of your vehicle.

• Pay attention to road conditions, especially when any of the above weather conditions are present. Also look out for potholes or any major litter in your path.

• Take care of your vehicle. Regular maintenance to tires, lubrications, brakes, defrosters, windshield wipers, and lights could prevent both traffic violations and accidents.

• Take care of yourself. Driving while you are fatigued, emotional, or overly excited is dangerous.

• Be aware of your surroundings. This includes other vehicles and drivers, the area in which you're driving, and traffic situations.

• Buckle up. West Virginia law requires you to wear your seat belt. All children younger than eight and less than 4'9" tall must be seated correctly in a federally-approved child safety seat. Children eight and older, or 4'9" and taller, may wear adult safety belts.

Traffic Schools

Traffic schools and defensive driving courses can be taken to lower the points accumulated on your driver's license.

In order to take a defensive driving course, you must have no more than 11 points accumulated and no pending tickets and/or points. For example, if you have 11 points, or close to 11 points, you may enroll in a defensive driving course; however, if pending tickets and points surface after you've enrolled or completed the course, the course won't count toward reducing your points.

If you're interested in using traffic school to lower or cancel the costs of a traffic ticket, you'll need to contact the court. It's entirely up to them.

For information regarding ticket payment and payment location, visit Paying Your Traffic Ticket.

Interested in finding out how you're doing? Head over to our special Driving Records section.