In the State of New Jersey, the Motor Vehicle
Commision (formerly the Division of Motor
Vehicles or 'DMV') is responsible
for the complicated management of New Jersey's drivers and their cars.
From registration and ownership to licensing and permits, NJ MVC handles it
all.
One of the
many facets of the MVC is punishment. In the State of New Jersey, driving
is a privilige that is granted to citizens pursuant to law. The laws that
govern licensing are extensive and very comprehensive. Among them, the law
charges the MVC with the responsibility of levying penalties against
drivers...namely driver's license may be revoked, suspended, or assessed points
due to infractions of any of the many traffic laws or licensing laws in the
state. To illustrate this concept, here is a common example:
A driver commits a moving violation on a roadway in New
Jersey. For instance, a driver fails to stop for a red traffic
light. A police officer sees this violation, pulls the driver over, and
issues him a summons (a.k.a. 'ticket'). The driver pleads guilty and
pays the summons. The court having jurisdiction over the summons
receives the guilty plee and payment, therefore entering a conviction
against the driver for running the red light. The court in turn notifies
the MVC, who records this judgement against this driver. As a result
of the court's findings, the MVC imposes motor-vehicle points against the
driver's license. These points remain on his driving record and are
slowly removed over time, provided there are no other moving violations
commited.
So, traffic
enforcement is essentially guided by three agencies: the police, the courts, and
the MVC. The police are responsible for detecting violations; the courts
are responsible for judging the violations and imposing fines; and finally the
MVC is responsible for assessing points or suspending driving priviliges for
violations.
Below if a listing of many common motor-vehicle 'moving' violations that carry points with them as a result of conviction. You will find the state statue, a brief description of the violation, and the number of motor-vehicle points that are imposed for that infraction. This is a recent listing of the MVC's points system. These values may be changed by MVC, so do not rely on the below table for official interpretation. Rather, visit the MVC at www.accessmvc.com, www.state.nj.us/mvc or www.njmcdirect.com for
more information about the MVC and summonses.
| New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway and
Atlantic City Expressway |
| 27:23-29 | Moving against traffic | 2 |
| 27:23-29 | Improper passing | 4 |
| 27:23-29 | Unlawful use of median
strip | 2 |
All roads and highways |
| 39:3-20 | Operating constructor vehicle in
excess of 45 mph | 3 |
| 39:4-14.3 | Operating motorized bicycle on a
restricted highway | 2 |
| 39:4-14.3d | More than one person on a
motorized bicycle | 2 |
| 39:4-35 | Failure to yield to pedestrian
in crosswalk | 2 |
| 39:4-36 | Failure to yield to pedestrian
in crosswalk; passing a vehicle yielding to pedestrian in
crosswalk | 2 |
| 39:4-41 | Driving through safety zone | 2 |
| 39:4-52 | Racing on highway | 5 |
| 39:4-55 | Improper action or omission on
grades and curves | 2 |
| 39:4-57 | Failure to observe direction of
officer | 2 |
| 39:4-66 | Failure to stop vehicle before
crossing sidewalk | 2 |
| 39:4-66.1 | Failure to yield to pedestrians
or vehicles while entering or leaving highway | 2 |
| 39:4-66.2 | Driving on public or private
property to avoid a traffic sign or signal | 2 |
| 39:4-71 | Operating a motor vehicle on a
sidewalk | 2 |
| 39:4-80 | Failure to obey direction of
officer | 2 |
| 39:4-81 | Failure to observe traffic
signals | 2 |
| 39:4-82 | Failure to keep right | 2 |
| 39:4-82.1 | Improper operating of vehicle on
divided highway or divider | 2 |
| 39:4-83 | Failure to keep right at
intersection | 2 |
| 39:4-84 | Failure to pass to right of
vehicle proceeding in opposite direction | 5 |
| 39:4-85 | Improper passing on right or off
roadway | 4 |
| 39:4-85.1 | Wrong way on a one-way street | 2 |
| 39:4-86 | Improper passing in no passing
zone | 4 |
| 39:4-87 | Failure to yield to overtaking
vehicle | 2 |
| 39:4-88 | Failure to observe traffic
lanes | 2 |
| 39:4-89 | Tailgating | 5 |
| 39:4-90 | Failure to yield at
intersection | 2 |
| 39:4-90.1 | Failure to use proper entrances
to limited access highways | 2 |
| 39:4-91-92 | Failure to yield to emergency
vehicles | 2 |
| 39:4-96 | Reckless driving | 5 |
| 39:4-97 | Careless driving | 2 |
| 39:4-97a | Destruction of agricultural or
recreational property | 2 |
| 39:4-97.1 | Slow speed blocking traffic | 2 |
| 39:4-97.2 | Driving in an unsafe manner
(points only assessed for the third or subsequent violation(s) within a
five-year period.) | 4 |
| 39:4-98 and | Exceeding maximum speed 1-14 mph
over limit | 2 |
| 39:4-99 | Exceeding maximum speed 15-29 mph
over limit | 4 |
| Exceeding maximum speed 30 mph or
more over limit | 5 |
| 39:4-105 | Failure to stop for traffic
light | 2 |
| 39:4-115 | Improper turn at traffic light | 3 |
| 39:4-119 | Failure to stop at flashing red
signal | 2 |
| 39:4-122 | Failure to stop for police
whistle | 2 |
| 39:4-123 | Improper right or left turn
| 3 |
| 39:4-124 | Improper turn from approved
turning course | 3 |
| 39:4-125 | Improper U-turn | 3 |
| 39:4-126 | Failure to give proper signal | 2 |
| 39:4-127 | Improper backing or turning in
street | 2 |
| 39:4-127.1 | Improper crossing of railroad
grade crossing | 2 |
| 39:4-127.2 | Improper crossing of bridge | 2 |
| 39:4-128 | Improper crossing of railroad
grade crossing by certain vehicles | 2 |
| 39:4-128.1 | Improper passing of school bus | 5 |
| 39:4-128.4 | Improper passing of a frozen
dessert truck | 4 |
| 39:4-129 | Leaving the scene of an accident
| |
| No personal injury | 2 |
| Personal injury | 8 |
| 39:4-144 | Failure to observe stop or yield
signs | 2 |
| 39:5C-1 | Racing on highway | 5 |
| 39:5D-4 | Moving violation out-of-state | 2 |
