DMV Point System in Rhode Island

Traffic Violations & Penalties in Rhode Island

Traffic offenses are generally not one and done sorts of deals. When you receive a ticket for violating a traffic law, it will be recorded on your Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) driving record.

If you commit too many minor traffic offenses or certain major offenses, you may risk:

  • A driver's license suspension, cancelation, or revocation.
  • Reinstatement fees.
  • Rhode Island traffic court and DMV fines.
  • Driving restrictions.
  • Driver improvement/defensive driving course completion requirements.
  • Higher car insurance rates.

On this page you'll find a general summary of common traffic violations and their consequences.

For more detailed information on topics related to traffic violations, please visit our pages on the following topics:

For specific information about your driver's license and driving record, please contact the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The Rhode Island Violation System

Unlike most other states, Rhode Island does not monitor a person's driving record through a point system. Instead, it relies upon the sting of fines and the possibility of driver's license suspensions or revocations to discourage drivers from challenging traffic laws.

Some common minor traffic violations include speeding, running traffic lights, and following too closely.

Rhode Island's absence of a point system means there is less tolerance for major offenses. Violations such as voluntary or involuntary vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of alcohol, and failure to stop in the event of an accident that causes injury or death, result in mandatory and immediate driver's license revocations and harsh penalties, including:

  • Expensive fines, court fees, and Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) payments.
  • Driver improvement programs.
  • Attitudinal/behavioral adjustment and evaluation programs.
  • Heavy driver's license restrictions.
  • Long suspension/revocation periods.

For specific information, please contact the Rhode Island Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or the court.

Just like every state that maintains a point system, Rhode Island also informs car insurance companies of every traffic violation. Depending on the severity of the infraction, this could substantially increase your insurance premiums.

If you've committed a traffic violation and have seen an increase in your car insurance rates, you may want to contact your insurance provider for information about opportunities that you may have to complete a defensive driving/driver improvement program and earn a safe driver discount to lower your rates.

Check Your Driver's License Status

If you need or want to check the status of your RI driver's license, you might be able to order a driving record report. This record will indicate whether your driver's license is currently valid. If your driver's license was revoked or suspended, the report will indicate that according to what's on record with the Rhode Island DMV. This report will also show fines against your driver's license and, in some cases, information on any accidents you have had.

Any time you receive a traffic ticket, you should consider ordering your Rhode Island driving record. It can often reveal whether or not you are at risk of receiving a driver's license suspension or fine before it's too late.

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