Points, tickets and licence suspension in Mississippi

By the end of this topic you can

• You can list common reasons Mississippi suspends a license.
• You can name offenses that bring a mandatory one-year revocation.
• You can describe how the Department of Public Safety counts points over three years.
• You can explain how reinstatement works and what it costs.
• You can explain why signing a ticket is not an admission of guilt.

What you need to know and understand

• A suspension takes away your license for a period; a revocation cancels it for a set time, such as one year.
• The Commissioner can suspend without a preliminary hearing for reasons such as habitually reckless driving or frequent serious violations.
• Three reckless driving convictions within 12 months bring a mandatory one-year revocation.
• Leaving the scene without stopping to give aid after a crash also brings a one-year revocation.
• Department of Public Safety rules count points over a three-year period, with a warning from 15 points and suspensions from 40 points.
• Reinstatement costs $175 after a DUI, implied consent or drug suspension, $25 for unpaid child support and $100 for most others.
• Reinstatement fees are paid by cashier's check made out to the Department of Public Safety.

Why a license can be suspended

• A conviction that requires mandatory revocation.
• Being the driver in a crash causing death, injury or serious property damage.
• Being a habitually reckless or negligent driver, or frequently convicted of serious violations.
• Being mentally or physically unable to drive safely.
• Allowing fraudulent use of your license.
• A DUI or similar offense in another state.
• Failing to pay child support.

Points and the one-year revocations

The manual does not explain a points table, but the Department of Public Safety's administrative rules do. They count points from traffic violations over three years: 15 to 29 points brings a warning, 30 to 39 probation, and 40 or more a suspension of 30, 60 or 90 days depending on the total. The points for each violation are set out in an appendix to the rules, so ask the Driver Service Bureau if you need a specific value.

Some offenses skip the points route. The Commissioner must revoke your license for one year after a conviction for vehicle manslaughter or negligent homicide, any felony involving a vehicle, failing to stop and render aid after a crash, lying to the department about vehicle ownership or operation, or three reckless driving convictions in 12 months.

Young drivers, tickets and getting back on the road

A hardship license can be revoked for a citation, a police report of dangerous driving, school attendance problems or a parent's request. Hardship licenses are also not available to anyone with a DUI.

If you are pulled over, signing the ticket is not an admission of guilt; you can contest it in court rather than argue at the roadside. If your license was deposited in place of bond, or you failed to appear in court, you need a corrected court abstract from the judge before reinstatement. Our main Mississippi guide covers DUI suspensions in more detail.

Common mistakes

• Ignoring a ticket. Failing to appear in court can lead to suspension and extra steps to reinstate.
• Arguing with the officer at the roadside instead of contesting the ticket in court.
• Sending cash or a personal check for reinstatement. Only a cashier's check is accepted.
• Assuming small tickets do not matter on a hardship license. One citation can end it.

Test yourself: Points, tickets and licence suspension in Mississippi

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

Go deeper

• Learning to Drive in Mississippi
• Mississippi Driver’s Ed Requirement From July 2027
• Mississippi Permit Practice Test