Three Driving Demerit Point Offenses

Virginia's "demerit point" system for traffic offenses is described on this page. The three point offense are listed below.

Speeding

  • Speeding 1-9 mph above the posted speed limit
  • Impeding traffic, slow speed

Passing/Driving

  • Improper passing
  • Improper passing on the right
  • Improper driving
  • Improper stopping on highway
  • Changing course after signaling
  • Coasting with gears in neutral
  • Failure to give way in favor of overtaking vehicle
  • Failure to give way when abreast of another car
  • Driving through safety zone
  • Driving over fire hose
  • Unauthorized use of crossover on controlled highway
  • Driving/riding on sidewalk

Turning/Backing

  • Improper turn
  • Improper U-turn
  • Violation of right turn on red
  • Violation of left turn on red

Signs/Signals

Evading traffic control device

Failure to obey highway sign

Lights

  • Driving without lights/excessive lights
  • Failure to dim headlights
  • Parking without proper lights displayed
  • Inadequate hazard lights

Licenses/Permits

  • No Virginia driver's license
  • No Virginia license plate
  • Failure to obtain a driver's license
  • No driver's license - vehicle/motorcycle
  • Failure to have license revalidated
  • Learner's permit violation
  • Permitting unlicensed person to drive
  • Driving in violation of restricted license (restrictions related to physical limitation, such as mechanical control device)

Commercial Motor Vehicles

  • Driving commercial motor vehicle with alcohol in blood
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle without license
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle with more than 1 driver's license
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle without endorsement(s)
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle without license in possession
  • Commercial driver's license/instruction permit violation
  • Driving commercial motor vehicle in left lane of interstate
  • Driving in excess of 13 hours in a 24-hour period
  • Driving public passenger-carrying vehicle under age
  • Driving bus transporting school children without a safety belt
  • Driving school bus without license
  • Driving school bus under age
  • Vehicle height exceeds limit for tunnels

Other Violations

  • Failure to stop at the scene of a crash, unattended property
  • Failure to leave the scene of a crash at the direction of officer
  • Failure to report a crash, unattended property, less than $250 damage
  • Following/parking within 500 feet of fire apparatus
  • Emergency vehicle violation
  • Drinking while driving
  • Improper driving/riding motorcycle
  • Driving with TV screen visible to driver
  • Driving while using earphones
  • Passenger restriction violation
  • Curfew violation
  • HOV violation, second or subsequent offense - Northern Virginia planning district 8
©2009 Weisberg & Zaleski, P.C., All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission
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