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| Reasons for
Attending Basic Driver Improvement |
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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.
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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.
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.
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| Electing to Attend
Traffic School |
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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:
- Your insurance rates cannot go up and your policy
cannot be cancelled because of this violation, unless this
involved a crash where you were at fault.
- Points may not be added to your driver license
record, adjudication of guilt is withheld, safe driver status is
maintained if applicable, and the fine is reduced up to 18%. You
may not make an election under this subsection if you have made
this election in the preceding 12 months. A person may make no
more than five elections in their lifetime.
Within 30 days from the date your received the traffic
citation and prior to attending class, you must:
- inform the Clerk of Court in the county where you
received the citation that you want to go to traffic school, and
- pay an election fee to the Clerk of Court in the
county where you received the citation.
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.” Approved course providers are also listed below. To locate
an approved on-line basic driver improvement course, please use your web
browser to search the Internet, refer to your local telephone directory,
or contact the course providers listed below.
A full list of your options for satisfying your
traffic citation is on the back of the citation. You are required to
choose one of the three options within 30 days of receiving the
citation.
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Points
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| If you choose to pay the civil penalty or
are adjudicated guilty by a judge, your driver record will be assessed
as follows: |
| 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 |
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If you accumulate:
- 12 points in 12 months, your license will be
suspended for 30 days;
- 18 points within 18 months results in a 3 month
suspension;
- 24 points within 36 months results in a 12 month
suspension.
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Drivers 15-17 Years Old
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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.
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| Traffic schools are
listed in your local telephone directory under “driving instruction”
or “traffic schools.” Approved course providers are also listed
below. |
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To locate an approved on-line basic driver improvement
course, please go see our Online Traffic School information.
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