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Under Pennsylvania’s point system, PennDOT adds points to your record for moving violations and starts taking action at 6 points: first a written special point exam or Driver Improvement School, then hearings and suspensions. Drivers under 18 are suspended for 90 days at 6 points or for driving 26 mph or more over the limit. For alcohol, the DUI limit is .08 at 21 and over but .02 under 21, and any refusal of a breath or blood test means a one-year suspension. This explainer covers points, DUI, underage drinking, traffic stops and crashes as set out in Chapter 4 of the Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual and PennDOT’s point system fact sheet.
Key facts
- 6 points: PennDOT corrective action begins.
- 11 points: automatic suspension.
- 3 points removed for every 12 months without a point violation, suspension or revocation.
- Under 18: 6 points or 26 mph over means a 90-day suspension (120 days for later ones).
- Under 21: BAC of .02 or more is DUI.
- Refusing a chemical test: one-year suspension even if found not guilty of DUI.
Points for common violations in Pennsylvania
From PennDOT’s point system fact sheet (March 2024):
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 6 to 10 mph over | 2 |
| Speeding 11 to 15 mph over | 3 |
| Speeding 16 to 25 mph over | 4 |
| Speeding 26 to 30 mph over | 5 |
| Speeding 31 mph or more over | 5, plus a Departmental Hearing |
| Speeding in a school zone | 3 |
| Failure to stop for a red light or a stop sign | 3 |
| Following too closely | 3 |
| Careless driving | 3 |
| Improper passing in a no-passing zone | 3 |
| Failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk | 2 |
| Driving too fast for conditions | 2 |
| Driving around road-closed signs for hazardous conditions (Steer Clear) | 2 |
| Failure to stop at a railroad crossing | 4 |
| Failure to obey a railroad crossing gate or barrier | 4, plus a 30-day suspension |
| Failure to stop for a school bus with red lights flashing | 5, plus a 60-day suspension |
| Leaving the scene of a property-damage-only crash | 4 |
In an active work zone, speeding 11 mph or more over also brings a 15-day suspension. Phone rules are covered in the texting and hands-free law guide.
What happens at 6 points in PA?
| Stage | What PennDOT does |
|---|---|
| First time at 6 or more | Written notice. Within 30 days, pass a special written point exam (removes 2 points) or complete Driver Improvement School (removes 4 points). Otherwise, suspension until you do. |
| Second time at 6 or more | Departmental Hearing and Driver Improvement School. Possible on-road exam and/or suspension of up to 15 days. |
| Third or later time | Hearing and school again. Possible suspension of up to 30 days. |
| 11 or more points | Automatic suspension: 5 days per point the first time, 10 days per point the second, 15 days per point the third, one year after that. |
After any suspension, your record shows 5 points when your privilege is restored, with limited exceptions. Points come off at 3 for every 12 consecutive months without a violation that brings points, a suspension or a revocation.
Worked example: a 17-year-old junior driver
A ticket for 16 to 25 mph over (4 points) plus a ticket for following too closely (3 points) totals 7 points. That triggers the under-18 90-day suspension and, separately, the first-accumulation exam or Driver Improvement School. One ticket for 26 mph or more over brings the 90-day suspension on its own. More on junior rules: Pennsylvania junior license rules.
Offenses that suspend or revoke your license
PUB 95 gives a partial list, including DUI, homicide by vehicle, reckless driving, racing, fleeing police, driving while suspended, hit-and-run, and a second offense of driving without a license within 5 years. Driving uninsured can also bring a three-month suspension of both your registration and your driving privilege. You can appeal a suspension to your county’s Court of Common Pleas within 30 days of the notice’s mailing date.
Pennsylvania DUI: BAC limits and penalties
- 21 and over: DUI at .08 or higher, or at a lower level if you are driving erratically.
- Under 21: DUI at .02 or higher. An under-21 DUI is penalized at the “High Rate” level even if the BAC is lower than that tier.
PUB 95 (4-21) summarizes first-offense penalties as follows. Check current penalties with PennDOT, as the manual edition is from 2021.
| Tier (first offense) | Sentence | Fine | License |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Impairment (.08 to .099) | 6 months probation | $300 | No action |
| High Rate (.10 to .159; also under 21 at .02 or more) | 2 days to 6 months in prison | $500 to $5,000 | 12-month suspension, 1 year ignition interlock |
| Highest Rate (.16 and up; also test refusal and controlled substances) | 3 days to 6 months in prison | $1,000 to $5,000 | 12-month suspension, 1 year ignition interlock |
Alcohol highway safety school is required for first and second offenses. Penalties rise with repeat offenses and with crashes causing injury or damage. Some first offenders may be accepted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program.
Implied consent: refusing a breath or blood test
By driving in Pennsylvania you are treated as agreeing to chemical testing. Refuse after a DUI arrest and your license is suspended for one year, even if you are found not guilty of DUI. Refusal also carries a restoration fee: $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, $2,000 for a third or later (per PUB 95). National background: implied consent and DUI in the US.
Underage drinking in Pennsylvania
- Under 21, it is illegal to buy, drink, possess or transport alcohol, including having it in the vehicle you drive.
- If arrested and tested, parental consent is not needed, but police will notify your parents.
- PUB 95 states the minimum penalty as a fine of up to $500 plus court costs, and courts may order an alcohol evaluation or education program.
- Adults who knowingly supply alcohol to minors face a fine of at least $1,000 for a first offense and $2,500 for each further offense, and up to a year in jail.
See also zero tolerance laws for drivers under 21.
If police stop you in Pennsylvania
- Signal, pull as far right as is safe, stop and park away from traffic.
- Turn off the engine and radio and open your window. At night, turn on the interior light.
- Keep hands on the wheel, stay in the car with seat belt on, and do not reach for anything until asked.
- Tell the officer right away if you are carrying a firearm.
- Hand over only your license, registration and insurance card when asked.
Police lights are red and blue, or red only on unmarked cars. Blue lights alone are not police. If unsure, turn on your flashers, slow down and drive to a well-lit, populated place.
After a crash in Pennsylvania
- Stop at or near the scene and move off the road if you can.
- Call police if anyone is hurt or killed, or a vehicle needs towing.
- Exchange names, addresses, phone numbers, registration numbers and insurance details. Get witness details too.
- Hit a parked car or property? Try to find the owner. If you cannot, leave a note with the date, time, your name and phone number, and call police.
- If police do not investigate a crash with injury, death or towing, send a Driver’s Accident Report (AA-600) to PennDOT within 5 days.
Fleeing or eluding police brings a one-year suspension and a $500 fine, plus costs, and possibly prison. See also what to do after a car crash.
Out-of-state offenses
Pennsylvania belongs to the Driver’s License Compact. Serious offenses in other member states, such as DUI, vehicular manslaughter or failing to stop and render aid, are treated as if committed in Pennsylvania. Ignoring an out-of-state citation leads to an indefinite suspension of your Pennsylvania driving privilege until you respond.
Common questions
How many points before you lose your license in PA?
At 11 points the suspension is automatic. Under 18, 6 points means a 90-day suspension.
How long do points stay on a Pennsylvania record?
3 points are removed for every 12 consecutive months without a point violation, suspension or revocation.
How many points is a speeding ticket in PA?
From 2 points for 6 to 10 mph over, up to 5 for 26 mph or more over.
What is the legal limit for drivers under 21 in Pennsylvania?
.02 BAC. At or above that, it is DUI.
What happens if I refuse a breathalyzer in PA?
A one-year suspension for a first refusal, plus a restoration fee, on top of any DUI penalties.
How do other states handle points?
See points systems and license suspensions in the US. For the full licensing route, see learning to drive in Pennsylvania.
Sources
- PennDOT, “Pennsylvania Driver’s Manual, PUB 95 (4-21)” (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “The Pennsylvania Point System” fact sheet, March 2024 (pa.gov)
- PennDOT, “Chapter 4: Pennsylvania’s Point System”, Online Driver’s Manual (pa.gov)