Points, tickets and licence suspension in Connecticut

By the end of this topic you can

• You can list the main offenses that suspend a 16 or 17 year old's license, and for how long.
• You can explain when the Operator Retraining Program is required.
• You can describe what happens if you ignore a ticket.
• You can explain what a restoration fee is.

What you need to know and understand

• The standard fee to restore a suspended license is $175, on top of any court fines.
• A first teen curfew or passenger violation brings a 30-day suspension; a second brings 6 months or until 18, whichever is longer.
• Teens convicted of going more than 20 mph over the limit lose their license for 60 days on a first offense.
• Teen reckless driving and street racing bring a 6-month suspension on a first offense.
• Police can take a 16 or 17 year old's license on the spot for 48 hours for certain violations.
• Drivers 24 or younger with two qualifying violations, or 25 and older with three, may have to complete the Operator Retraining Program.
• Missing a ticket's answer date or court date leads to a suspension.

Suspensions for 16 and 17 year olds

• Graduated license violations (passengers, curfew and similar): 30 days, then 6 months or until 18.
• Phone or texting: 30 days, then 90 days, then 6 months.
• Speeding more than 20 mph over the limit: 60 days, then 90 days, then 6 months.
• Reckless driving: 6 months, then 1 year, with possible jail time.
• Street racing: 6 months, then 1 year, with possible jail time.
• Each suspension also carries the $175 restoration fee and court fines.

The Operator Retraining Program

Connecticut uses this program to correct risky habits. Since October 1, 2025, a reckless driving conviction also means you must complete it. If you are 24 or younger and pick up two qualifying moving or suspension violations, or 25 or older with three, the DMV will write to you. For teens, permit violations, graduated license violations and illegal phone use can all count.

Finish the program before the date in the letter to avoid a suspension. Afterwards, another moving violation within 36 months brings a suspension of 30 days, then 60 days, then 90 days for later ones.

Tickets and your record

Connecticut courts report traffic convictions to the DMV electronically, and the DMV also keeps a points record for many moving violations. Check with the Connecticut DMV for the current points schedule. Either way, the fewer violations you have, the safer your license and insurance costs.

If you get a ticket, pay it or answer it by the due date. If you miss the answer date or a court date, the DMV is asked to suspend your license. You can avoid that by reopening the case before the suspension date; after that date you also pay the $175 fee.

Getting your license back

1. Serve the full suspension period.
2. Complete any course or program the DMV requires.
3. Pay the $175 restoration fee and any court fines.
4. Install an ignition interlock device first if the suspension was alcohol-related.

Common mistakes

• Ignoring a ticket and hoping it goes away. It turns into a suspension.
• Thinking a short curfew break is minor. A first violation costs you 30 days of driving.
• Driving during a suspension. It creates a new, more serious offense.
• Throwing away a DMV retraining letter. Missing the deadline triggers a suspension.

Test yourself: Points, tickets and licence suspension in Connecticut

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.

Go deeper

• Connecticut Teen License Suspensions
• Connecticut 8 Hour Safe Driving Practices Course
• CT Permit Test