Reasons for Attending Basic Driver Improvement

You must complete a basic driver improvement course (Traffic Collision Avoidance Course) if you want to retain your driver license in the following circumstance:

• you were a driver in a crash and are found at fault and

• someone was transported to the hospital or

• you had two crashes in a two-year period, which resulted in property damage greater than $50.

If you receive a ticket for a non-criminal moving violation, you may elect to attend a basic driver improvement course in lieu of points on your driving record. See faq for more information.

In some cases, you may choose to attend a basic driver improvement course to receive insurance discounts. This discount is solely at the discretion of your insurance company.

Electing to Attend Traffic School

If, as a result of a moving violation, you elect to attend and complete a basic driver improvement course, you will receive the following benefits:

Within 30 days from the date your received the traffic citation and prior to attending class, you must:

You may contact the traffic school of your choice to register for class. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must approve the course. Traffic schools are listed in your local telephone directory under “driving instruction” or “traffic schools.”

To locate an approved on-line basic driver improvement course, please use your web browser to search the Internet, or refer to your local telephone directory.

A full list of your options for satisfying your traffic citation is on the back of your citation. You are required to choose one of the three options within 30 days of receiving the citation.

Points

If you choose to pay the civil penalty or are found guilty by a judge, your driver record will be assessed as follows: You can check you DL record here

Moving Violations

3 points

Speeding 15 m.p.h or less over posted speed

3 points

Speeding more than 15 m.p.h. over posted speeds

4 points

Passing stopped school bus

4 points

Moving violation (non-speeding) resulting in an crash

4 points

Unlawful speed resulting in a crash

6 points

Reckless driving (criminal traffic violation)

4 points

Leaving scene of crash with damage

6 points

Littering

3 points

Violation of child restraint laws

3 points

If you accumulate:

Drivers 15-17 Years Old

If you are driving with a Florida learner’s license, you must hold it for at least 12 months without a traffic conviction before you may apply for an operator’s license. You may avoid conviction by electing to attend and completing a basic driver improvement course approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

If you are driving with a Florida learner’s license or a Florida operator’s license and you receive 6 points, you are restricted to driving for business purposes only for 12 months or until you reach the age of 18. Restriction time is increased if additional points are accumulated. You may avoid conviction by electing to attend and completing a basic driver improvement course approved by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.