Utah Traffic Tickets and the Points System: Points Per Violation
General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.
Short answer: Each Utah traffic violation adds a set number of demerit points to your driving record, with more serious violations adding more points. Accumulate too many within a rolling 3-year window — 200 or more if you're 21 or older, 70 or more if you're under 21 — and your license faces suspension.
Who this guide is for
Anyone in Utah who's received a traffic ticket and wants to understand how it affects their driving record, or anyone trying to understand why their license might be at risk of suspension.
How many points each violation carries
According to the Utah Driver License Division, points are assessed by type of citation:
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Reckless driving | 80 |
| Careless driving | 50 |
| Speeding 1–10 mph over | 35 |
| Speeding 11–20 mph over | 55 |
| Speeding 21+ mph over | 75 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way | 60 |
| Following too close | 60 |
| Wrong way on a one-way street | 60 |
| Impeding traffic | 50 |
| Red light | 50 |
| Stop sign | 50 |
| Improper lookout | 50 |
| Improper passing | 50 |
| Negligent collision | 50 |
| Texting while driving | 50 |
| Other moving violations | 40 |
The Division notes that points may vary by more or less than 10% depending on severity, and that serious offenses like DUI require mandatory suspension or revocation and aren't part of the points system.
What that means in practice: a single speeding ticket 21 or more mph over adds 75 points — more than a third of the way to the 200-point adult suspension threshold. Three tickets at 11–20 mph over (55 each) total 165. Points from each violation are tracked for 3 years from the violation date, then automatically removed.
Suspension thresholds
- Drivers 21 and older: license suspension for 3 months to 1 year at 200 or more points within 3 years.
- Drivers under 21: license suspension for 1 month to 1 year at 70 or more points within 3 years — a notably lower threshold, reflecting stricter treatment of newer, younger drivers.
Additional thresholds for provisional (newer) drivers
Utah applies a more graduated system specifically for provisional licenses, including a warning letter at 35–69 points, a hearing requirement at 70 points, and escalating suspension periods at higher point totals (reportedly 60 days at 200–249 points, up to a full year at 450+ points — confirm the current figures with the Driver License Division). If you or a family member holds a provisional license, these lower, more graduated thresholds matter more than the standard adult thresholds above.
How to reduce points on your record
- A full year without a moving violation conviction removes half of your accumulated points.
- Two consecutive years without a conviction removes all accumulated points.
- Completing a defensive driving course — available once every 3 years — can subtract up to 50 points from your record. The Division says it's usable for point reduction once every three years, is accepted through the Utah Safety Council or National Safety Council, and is available as a live 4-hour course or online.
- Points automatically expire 3 years after the date of the underlying violation, regardless of other activity.
Why fighting a ticket (rather than just paying it) can matter beyond the fine
Simply paying a traffic ticket is generally treated as a conviction for points purposes — meaning the points get added to your record even though you never went to court. If you're already carrying a meaningful point total, or the violation is serious enough to risk a real jump toward the suspension threshold, contesting the ticket (rather than automatically paying it) is worth considering specifically because of the points consequence, not just the fine itself.
What happens if your license is suspended for points
Beyond the obvious inconvenience, driving on a suspended license is its own separate, more serious offense — compounding the original problem significantly. If you're approaching a suspension threshold, addressing it proactively (through a defensive driving course, or simply driving carefully to let points expire) is far better than waiting for a suspension to happen and driving anyway.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How many points is a speeding ticket in Utah?
Per the Driver License Division: 35 points for 1–10 mph over, 55 points for 11–20 mph over, and 75 points for 21 mph or more over.
How many points will suspend my license in Utah?
200 or more points within 3 years for drivers 21 and older (suspension of 3 months to 1 year), and 70 or more points within 3 years for drivers 20 and under (30 days to 1 year).
Do all traffic violations add the same number of points?
No — see the table above; for example, texting while driving is 50 points, while "other moving violations" are 40.
Does a violation in another state affect my Utah point total?
Out-of-state violations can potentially be reported to Utah's system depending on interstate reporting agreements — don't assume an out-of-state ticket has no effect on your Utah record.
Can I take a defensive driving course more than once every 3 years to keep reducing points?
The Driver License Division says the course can be used for point reduction once every three years, for a maximum of 50 points.