DMV Point System in Hawaii
The Hawaii Traffic Violation System
Hawaii's state legislature recently scrapped the cumulative point system that was designed to give enforcement agencies a quick way to assess driving performance. Each traffic infraction carried a number; the higher the assigned points, the more serious the offense.
If a certain number of points were collected over a specified period of time, then a driver would face the possibility of a suspended driver's license. The courts became overwhelmed, so the legislature acted by decriminalizing most traffic breaches. Thus, most infractions are now deemed civil rather than criminal offenses and are only assessed a monetary fine that no longer requires a trip to court. However, serious offenses/violations like driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol (DUI) will generally require you to satisfy court requirements.
On this page you'll find a general, basic, bare-bones overview of the Hawaii traffic violation system.
Actions Against Your HI Driver's License
Having no point system does not mean that your record will not be damaged by amassing civil traffic infractions. All traffic tickets issued in Hawaii, minus parking tickets, will show up on your traffic abstract/driving history report. Certain traffic violations may result in the immediate suspension, revocation, or cancellation of your Hawaii driver's license.
Additionally, minor offenses (such as speeding tickets, improper lane changes, following too closely, running a traffic light, etc.) can add up and lead to:
- The Hawaii Department of Transportation (DOT) taking action against your driving record.
- Fines owed to the Hawaii traffic court or your local county department which handles motor vehicles.
- Mandatory completion of community service.
Your driving record abstract is available to both employers and insurance companies. Thus, any signs of habitual problems with traffic tickets, especially for serious offenses, will surely send your insurance rates through the roof. Additionally, if your profession involves driving, which is true for many in Hawaii, you may have trouble getting or keeping a job.
If you've received too many traffic violations and face higher car insurance rates, you may want to contact your car insurance provider to find out opportunities you may have to earn a discount or lower your premium.
Even though Hawaii no longer uses a point system, the consequences of getting traffic tickets are still the same. You'll pay fines, your driving record will show you're not the safest of drivers, and your HI driver's license may be suspended, revoked, or cancelled.
For more information about suspended driver's licenses in Hawaii, the reinstatement process, defensive driving courses, and your driving record, please visit our pages on the following topics:
Check the Status of Your Driver's License
Whenever you need or want to check the status of your Hawaii driver's license, you can order a driving record report.
Your Hawaii driving record not only allows you to see if your driver's license is valid or suspended, but it will also show all traffic violations that you've committed and been penalized for. Whenever you receive a traffic citation, ordering your driving record is a good idea.
If you have questions about interpreting your driving record or have found an error, please contact the Hawaii DMV.