Connecticut suspends your license when you reach 20 points within a 24-month period
Connecticut's Department of Motor Vehicles tracks violations using a point system. Each traffic violation carries a specific point value. When your total reaches 20 points in any 24-month rolling period, the DMV automatically suspends your license for at least 30 days. This is not a warning or a fine — it is a mandatory suspension that prevents you from driving legally.
The 24-month window means the DMV looks backward from today. If you received a violation 25 months ago, it no longer counts toward your total. But if you received one 20 months ago, it still does. Points accumulate regardless of whether you paid the fine or contested the ticket in court.
Understanding which violations carry how many points helps you see how quickly suspension can happen. A single serious violation can put you halfway to suspension. Multiple minor violations over a short period can push you over the edge without any one ticket feeling severe.
Key Takeaways
- Connecticut suspends your license automatically when you accumulate 20 points within 24 months, and the suspension lasts at least 30 days.
- Common violations carry between 2 and 8 points; speeding 1–10 mph over the limit is 2 points, while reckless driving is 8 points.
- Points stay on your record for 24 months from the violation date, not from when you paid the fine or went to court.
- You can request a hearing before the DMV to contest the suspension, but you must do so within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice.
- Completing a defensive driving course can reduce points on your record, though the reduction is limited and the course must be taken before suspension occurs.
Point values for common Connecticut traffic violations
The point value depends on the type and severity of the violation. Here are the violations you are most likely to encounter:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1–10 mph over limit | 2 |
| Speeding 11–20 mph over limit | 4 |
| Speeding 21+ mph over limit | 8 |
| Following too closely | 4 |
| Improper lane change | 2 |
| Failure to obey traffic signal | 4 |
| Failure to stop at stop sign | 4 |
| Unsafe passing | 4 |
| Reckless driving | 8 |
| Driving under the influence (DUI) | 10 |
| Hit and run | 10 |
A single DUI or hit-and-run violation puts you halfway to suspension. Two speeding tickets at 21+ mph over the limit (8 points each) will suspend your license. Even seemingly minor violations add up: five speeding tickets at 1–10 mph over the limit equals 10 points, and a few more violations will push you to 20.
How the 24-month rolling window affects your total
The DMV does not reset your points on a calendar year. Instead, it uses a rolling 24-month period. This means the DMV looks back exactly 24 months from today and counts every violation within that window.
If you received a violation on January 15, 2023, it counts toward your total until January 14, 2025. On January 15, 2025, it drops off your record. This matters because you might think you are safe with 18 points, but if an old violation is about to expire, a new ticket could push you over 20 before the old one falls off.
You can request your driving record from the Connecticut DMV to see exactly which violations are currently counting toward your total and when each one will expire. This is the only way to know your true point total and how close you are to suspension.
What happens when you reach 20 points
When the DMV determines that you have reached 20 points, it mails you a suspension notice. The suspension becomes effective 10 days after you receive the notice, giving you a brief window to request a hearing if you believe the suspension is wrong.
Your first suspension lasts at least 30 days. If you accumulate 20 points again within five years of your first suspension, your second suspension lasts at least 60 days. A third suspension within five years lasts at least 90 days. These periods can be longer if the DMV finds additional violations or if you fail to meet reinstatement requirements.
During suspension, you cannot drive legally. Driving on a suspended license is a separate criminal offense that carries fines, possible jail time, and further license penalties. Your vehicle can also be impounded.
Requesting a hearing to contest the suspension
You have the right to request a hearing before the DMV suspends your license. You must submit your request within 10 days of receiving the suspension notice. The hearing gives you a chance to present evidence that the violation was recorded incorrectly, that the points were miscalculated, or that there are other circumstances the DMV should consider.
Common grounds for contesting a suspension include violations that were dismissed in traffic court (which should not count toward your total), violations that were reduced to non-moving violations (which carry no points), or clerical errors in the DMV's records. If you won a traffic case in court, bring a copy of the court's decision to your hearing.
The hearing is conducted by a DMV hearing officer, not a judge. You can represent yourself or bring an attorney. If the hearing officer finds in your favor, the suspension is cancelled. If not, the suspension proceeds as scheduled.
Reducing points through a defensive driving course
Connecticut allows you to reduce points on your record by completing an approved defensive driving course. The course removes up to 4 points from your total, but only if you take it before your license is suspended. Once suspension occurs, a defensive driving course cannot prevent it or shorten it.
You can take a defensive driving course once every 12 months. If you have 18 points and take the course, your total drops to 14 points. This buys you time before reaching 20, but it does not erase your violations or reset the clock on the 24-month window.
The course must be approved by the Connecticut DMV. Many driving schools and online providers offer these courses. Completion typically takes four to six hours. You will receive a certificate of completion, which you must submit to the DMV to have the points removed from your record.
Reinstatement after suspension ends
When your suspension period ends, your license does not automatically return. You must explore for reinstatement with the Connecticut DMV. Reinstatement requires paying a reinstatement fee (currently $100 for a first suspension) and submitting the reinstatement process.
If you were suspended for a second or third time within five years, the DMV may require you to pass a written knowledge test or a road test before reinstatement. You will receive details about any additional requirements in your suspension notice.
During the suspension period, your points continue to age. If your suspension lasts 30 days and you received violations 23 months ago, those violations will fall off your record while you are suspended. This can affect whether you face another suspension when ready after reinstatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do points from violations I paid a fine for still count toward suspension?
Yes. Paying the fine does not remove the points. The points remain on your record for 24 months from the violation date regardless of whether you paid, contested the ticket, or had it dismissed. Only a court dismissal or reduction to a non-moving violation removes the points.
If I contest a ticket in traffic court and lose, can I still request a DMV hearing on the suspension?
Yes. A DMV hearing is separate from a traffic court case. Even if the court found you guilty, you can still request a DMV hearing to challenge whether the points were calculated correctly or whether the violation was recorded accurately in the DMV system. Bring a copy of the court's decision to your hearing.
How do I check my current point total?
You can request your driving record from the Connecticut DMV online, by mail, or in person at a DMV office. The record shows every violation on file, the points assigned to each, and the date each violation will expire. This is the only official way to know your true total.
Can I get my license back early if I complete a defensive driving course during suspension?
No. A defensive driving course cannot shorten a suspension that has already begun. The course only works if taken before suspension occurs. Once suspended, you must wait out the full suspension period before explore for reinstatement.
What if I received a violation in another state — does it count toward Connecticut suspension?
Connecticut counts violations from other states if they are reported to the Connecticut DMV through the Interstate Compact system. Most states report serious violations automatically. Contact the Connecticut DMV if you are unsure whether an out-of-state violation is on your Connecticut record.