Points, tickets and licence suspension in Rhode Island

By the end of this topic you can

• You can give examples of common Rhode Island traffic fines.
• You can explain how a violation affects a teen's graduated license.
• You can name common reasons for a suspension.
• You can describe what a suspension means for you.

What you need to know and understand

• Since a 2025 update to the state fine schedule, many common violations, such as running a red light or following too closely, carry a $100 fine.
• Speeding 1 to 10 mph over the limit is $95; at 11 mph or more over, the fine is at least $205.
• A moving violation or seat belt conviction in the past 6 months blocks a teen's upgrade.
• A third phone offense under 18 means losing your license until 18.
• Common suspension causes include unpaid fines, offenses with mandatory suspension and requests from another state.
• While suspended, you cannot drive in Rhode Island or any other state.
• Suspensions are handled by appointment at the DMV's Adjudication Office.

What common tickets cost

The state fine schedule, updated in 2025, sets $100 for many everyday violations, including disobeying a traffic signal, failing to signal, following too closely, illegal passing, failing to stop at a stop sign, not yielding to pedestrians in a crosswalk, a child restraint violation and driving without lights when required. Speeding 1 to 10 mph over is $95, and 11 mph or more over starts at $205. Fines are set by statute and can change. Note that the April 2024 manual still shows the older $85 amounts.

Other penalties are higher: up to $1,000 for failing to yield to a blind pedestrian, fines and a possible suspension for driving uninsured, and for passing a stopped school bus a fine plus a possible suspension of up to 30 days.

Why tickets hit teens harder

• To get your provisional license you need 6 months with no moving violation or seat belt conviction.
• To get your full license you need the same clean 6 months, so a ticket can push it back.
• Under 18, using a phone at all while driving is an offense, and a third one costs your license until 18.
• Alcohol offenses under 21 bring suspensions even at low blood alcohol levels.
• Breaking provisional rules can bring penalties; check the current consequences with the DMV.

When a license is suspended

Suspensions are handled by appointment at the Adjudication Office within the DMV. The most common reasons are failing to pay a traffic fine, committing an offense that carries mandatory suspension time, or a suspension request from another state. You do not have to hand in your license and can keep it as ID.

During a suspension you may not drive anywhere, in Rhode Island or another state. Your violations are public record, insurers can see them and your premiums may rise. Some suspensions for failing to pay or appear can be cleared online once you resolve them.

Common mistakes

• Ignoring a ticket. Unpaid fines are a leading cause of suspension.
• Thinking a seat belt ticket is minor. For a teen it delays the next license stage.
• Driving while suspended because the license card is still in your wallet.
• Assuming a suspension in Rhode Island lets you drive in a neighboring state.

Test yourself: Points, tickets and licence suspension in Rhode Island

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

Go deeper

• Learning to Drive in Rhode Island
• Rhode Island Driver’s Ed
• Rhode Island 50 Hour Driving Log and Affidavit Checklist