Oregon suspends your license after accumulating too many points, not after a set number of tickets
Oregon does not have a rule that says "three speeding tickets and your license is suspended." Instead, the state uses a point system. Each traffic violation, including speeding, adds points to your driving record. When you reach a certain point threshold within a set time period, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) will suspend your license.
A single speeding ticket typically adds 1 to 5 points depending on how far over the limit you were driving. The faster you were going, the more points you receive. This means you could theoretically get your license suspended after just one ticket if it was for extreme speeding, or after several tickets for minor speeding violations.
The suspension thresholds and time windows are fixed by state law, but the exact path to suspension depends on your driving history and the specific violations on your record.
Key Takeaways
- Oregon uses a point-based system where speeding tickets add 1 to 5 points depending on how many miles per hour over the limit you were driving.
- Your license is suspended when you accumulate 12 or more points within a 12-month period, or 18 or more points within a 24-month period.
- ODOT sends a notice of suspension by mail before your license is actually suspended, giving you time to request a hearing if you dispute the points.
- Points stay on your record for three years from the violation date, so older tickets do not count toward the suspension threshold.
- You can reduce points through traffic safety school, but only once every five years and only if you were not at fault in a collision.
How Oregon's point system works
Oregon assigns points based on the type of violation and the severity. A speeding ticket for driving 1 to 10 miles per hour over the limit typically adds 1 point. Speeding 11 to 20 miles per hour over the limit adds 2 points. Speeding 21 to 30 miles per hour over the limit adds 3 points. Speeding more than 30 miles per hour over the limit adds 5 points.
Other violations also add points — reckless driving, following too closely, unsafe lane changes, and failure to obey traffic signals all carry their own point values. If you receive multiple violations on the same day, all of them count toward your total.
ODOT tracks these points on your driving record. You can view your record by visiting the ODOT website or requesting a copy by mail. Your record shows every violation from the past three years, along with the points assigned to each one.
The suspension thresholds that trigger license loss
Oregon has two suspension thresholds based on different time windows. If you accumulate 12 or more points within any 12-month period, ODOT will suspend your license. If you accumulate 18 or more points within any 24-month period, your license will also be suspended.
This means you could hit the threshold in two different ways. You might get four speeding tickets in rapid succession (each worth 3 points) and reach 12 points in under a year. Or you might accumulate violations more slowly over two years and reach 18 points. Either way, the suspension follows.
The 12-month and 24-month windows are rolling — they look back from today, not from a fixed calendar date. So if you received a ticket on January 15, 2023, that violation stops counting toward the threshold on January 15, 2026.
How ODOT notifies you before suspension
ODOT does not suspend your license without warning. When you reach the point threshold, ODOT mails you a Notice of Suspension to the address on file with your license. This notice tells you the suspension date, the reason for the suspension, and your right to request a hearing.
You typically have 10 days from the date the notice is mailed to request a hearing if you believe the points were assigned in error or if you have other grounds to contest the suspension. The hearing is held before an administrative law judge, not in traffic court. You can represent yourself or bring an attorney.
If you do not request a hearing, or if the hearing upholds the suspension, your license will be suspended on the date stated in the notice. You cannot drive legally during the suspension period, and driving with a suspended license carries criminal penalties.
How long a suspension lasts
The length of your suspension depends on whether this is your first suspension or a repeat offense. A first suspension typically lasts 30 days. If you have been suspended before, the suspension period increases — a second suspension may last 90 days, and a third or subsequent suspension may last one year or longer.
During the suspension, you cannot drive at all, even for work or medical appointments. After the suspension period ends, you must pay a reinstatement fee to ODOT and provide proof of financial responsibility (usually an SR-22 insurance form) before your license is restored.
The reinstatement fee varies but is typically several hundred dollars. If you do not pay the fee and provide proof of insurance, your license remains suspended even after the suspension period technically ends.
Reducing points through traffic safety school
Oregon allows you to reduce points on your record by completing a traffic safety school course. If you complete an approved course, ODOT will remove up to 3 points from your record. However, there are strict limits on when you can use this option.
You can only use traffic safety school once every five years. You cannot use it if you were found at fault in a collision within the past three years. You also cannot use it if you have already used it for a prior violation within the five-year window.
Traffic safety school courses are offered online and in person by approved providers throughout Oregon. The course typically takes four to six hours to complete and costs between $50 and $150, depending on the provider. Once you complete the course, send your certificate to ODOT, and the points will be removed within a few weeks.
What happens if your license is suspended
A suspended license means you cannot legally drive. If you are stopped by police while driving on a suspended license, you can be charged with a misdemeanor, fined up to $1,000, and potentially jailed. A second or subsequent offense within five years carries harsher penalties.
You may be able to obtain a hardship permit during your suspension if you can show that suspension causes undue hardship — for example, if you need to drive to work and have no other transportation. To request a hardship permit, you must submit a written request to ODOT explaining your situation. Approval is not may provide and depends on the circumstances.
Once your suspension period ends and you pay the reinstatement fee, your license is restored. However, the violations that led to the suspension remain on your driving record for three years. This affects your insurance rates and can influence future suspension decisions if you receive additional violations.
How to check your current point total
You can view your driving record and current point total through the ODOT website. Go to the ODOT Driver and Motor Vehicle Services page, select "View Your Driving Record," and follow the prompts. You will need your driver's license number and date of birth.
You can also request a copy of your driving record by mail or in person at an ODOT office. There is a small fee for a paper copy, typically $5 to $10. Your record will show every violation from the past three years, the points assigned to each violation, and your current total.
Checking your record regularly helps you understand how close you are to the suspension threshold. If you are approaching 12 points in a 12-month period, you know that one more violation could trigger a suspension.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get points removed from my record before they expire?
Yes, through traffic safety school — you can remove up to 3 points by completing an approved course. You can only do this once every five years, and you cannot have been at fault in a collision within the past three years. Points also automatically fall off your record three years after the violation date.
What if I get a speeding ticket while my license is already suspended?
You will face additional criminal charges for driving with a suspended license, and the new speeding violation will add more points to your record. Once your suspension ends and your license is reinstated, those new points will count toward a future suspension threshold.
Does paying a speeding ticket fine reduce the points?
No. Paying the fine does not remove or reduce the points assigned to the violation. The fine and the points are separate — you must pay the fine regardless, and the points remain on your record unless you complete traffic safety school or the three-year period expires.
Can I contest the points assigned to my speeding ticket?
You can contest the violation itself in traffic court before you are convicted. If you are convicted, the points are assigned automatically and you cannot contest them in traffic court. However, you can request a hearing with ODOT if you believe the points were assigned in error after a suspension notice is issued.
What is an SR-22 and why do I need it after suspension?
An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility filed by your insurance company with ODOT. It proves you have liability insurance. After a suspension, you must provide an SR-22 before your license is reinstated. Your insurance company can file it for you, usually at no extra cost if you maintain a policy.