Am I Eligible for Traffic School?

Alabama does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Alabama courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

If you are issued a traffic citation in the state of Alaska, you must receive a court referral in order to attend traffic school and have your ticket dismissed. However, even without a court referral, you may still take a traffic school course in order to remove points from your driving record. Alaska has a "Point Reduction" program which allows you to have two negative driving points removed from your driving record. Any driver can take a defensive driving course once every 12 months. Once you successfully complete the DDC program, the program will fax the DMV proof of completion and they will deduct two points from your accumulated driver's license points.

To be eligible to take an Arizona defensive driving course in order to dismiss a ticket, at least 12 months must have passed from the date of your last violation which was dismissed by taking a defensive driving course (the days are counted from citation date to citation date). If you are uncertain as to whether it has been 12 months since your last violation dismissed by defensive driving course completion, you may contact us and one of our Arizona-expert customer service agents can determine your eligibility. Commercial driver’s license holders are not eligible for defensive driving.

The violation for which you were cited is also a determining factor in your eligibility. Please review this list of violations: http://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/48/LISTOFELIGIBLEVIOLATIONS03082011REV.pdf.If your violation number is marked as CM, it may not be eligible for dismissal by defensive driving course completion. Your violation number will be shown on your traffic citation. If your violation is NOT on the list, then you cannot take traffic school.

Arkansas does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program to dismiss tickets, but their courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts, whether a traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Your jurisdictional court will grant you permission to attend traffic school for a traffic violation. The option to attend traffic school will appear on your bond card or on the Court website if you are paying your fine online. You may also contact the court shown on your citation to request permission to attend a traffic school. The Court will collect an administrative fee in addition to the fine amount.
In addition to court permission, a period of at least 18 months must have passed since the date of your last traffic violation for which you completed a traffic school course (days are counted from violation date to violation date).

Colorado does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Colorado courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Connecticut does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Connecticut courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Delaware does not have a program for ticket dismissal, but a Delaware driver's license holder can receive three points of credit to their driving record by taking a defensive driving course. This credit is applied to a driver's point total with the satisfactory completion of an approved defensive driving course. The credit is valid for three years and after you may take another "refresher" course in order to maintain the three point credit on your driving record.

If you have received a moving violation in Washington, DC, then you may be eligible to attend a DC DMV approved online defensive driving course to have the points removed from your driving record. Prior approval from a DC Department of Motor Vehicles' Hearing Examiner is required before taking the course to have points removed. If your DC driver license has been expired for more than 365 days, then you may also take one of the approved online DMV traffic school courses as a substitute to retaking the knowledge test. If your DC driver license has been expired for more than 545 days, you will also have to retake the road test.

If you do not hold a commercial license, you may elect to take a basic driver improvement course, or BDI for short, in order to avoid points added to your driving record. Prior to attending the course, you must contact your jurisdictional court to inform them that you would like to take a BDI course and to pay an election fee. You may not elect to take a basic driver improvement course for a traffic violation if you have already taken the course for another violation in the last 12 months.

If the Florida DMV or DHSMV is making you take a basic driver improvement course, then you are eligible to take the course anytime, as long as you complete before the due date they gave you.

Georgia does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Georgia courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Hawaii does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Hawaii courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Idaho does not have a program for ticket dismissal, but once every three years Idaho driver's license holders may reduce their point total by three points if they complete an approved defensive driving course (DDC). The course cannot be taken if your license has been suspended.

Illinois does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Illinois courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Indiana drivers can take a driver safety program from a BMV-approved provider and receive a four point credit to their driving record. This course may be taken once every three years in order to receive the four point credit.

Iowa does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Iowa courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Kansas does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Kansas courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

In order to be eligible for Kentucky State Traffic School, the following requirements must be met:

• A driver cannot be under suspension.
• A driver cannot attend state traffic school for a conviction carrying a mandatory license suspension; a driver can only attend on minor traffic violations.
• A driver can only be referred to state traffic school once within a twelve-month period.
• Non-licensed drivers are not eligible to attend state traffic school.
• All state traffic school referrals must come from the district court where the violation occurred.

Louisiana does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Louisiana courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Although Maine does not have a program for ticket dismissal, Maine driver's license holders may take the "Maine Driving Dynamics" course in order to receive three points of credit to their driving record. This course may only be taken once every 365 days. This course is not available online; it must be taken in-person.

Maryland does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Maryland courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Massachusetts does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Massachusetts courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Traffic violators may take an approved driver improvement course in order to have the points and ticket information masked to insurance companies. The Michigan secretary of state will notify you if you are eligible to attend a driver improvement course.

Minnesota does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Minnesota courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Mississippi does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Mississippi courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

The following counties have authorized the Fine Collection Center (FCC) to approve attendance in the Driver Improvement Program to avoid point assessment on a Missouri Driver’s License for moving violations. (The name of the county where you received your ticket is found on the top of your citation in the first block.)

Counties that allow the FCC to approve attendance at a Driver Improvement Program:
Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Barton, Bollinger, Boone, Buchanan, Butler, Callaway, Cape Girardeau, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Dade, Daviess, Franklin, Gasconade, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Hickory, Holt, Howell, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Livingston, Macon, Madison, Marion, McDonald, Miller, Nodaway, Oregon, Osage, Pemiscot, Perry, Pike, Platte, Putnam, Reynolds, Ripley, Saline, Schuyler, Scott, Shannon, Shelby, St. Clair, Ste. Genevieve, Sullivan, Vernon, Wayne, Webster, Worth, Wright.

If the county in which you received your citation is not listed above, and you want to attend the Driver Improvement Program, you must first plead not guilty to the Fine Collection Center. The FCC will send your citation to the prosecuting attorney in the county where the citation was issued. After the prosecutor files the citation with the court, the court will notify you of a court date. If you plead guilty at the court, they have the authority to allow you to attend DIP to avoid point assessment. However, this decision is made by the court on a case by case basis and there is no guarantee that they will allow you to attend. You should check with the court in the county where the ticket was issued to learn about local policies concerning DIP.

If you are charged with a moving violation in a county that has approved the Driver Improvement Program, and you plead guilty and pay your fine and costs in full to the FCC, you will automatically be approved to attend an authorized Driver Improvement Program course to avoid having points assessed on your Missouri driver’s license. However, this program is not available for a violation committed in a commercial motor vehicle or for any driver who has a commercial driver’s license. Attendance at DIP is not mandatory. If you choose to attend DIP, you must complete an approved DIP course within 60 days of your guilty plea. No points will be added to your Missouri driver’s records if you meet these requirements. For violations committed while operating a motorcycle, the rider must attend an approved motorcycle-rider training course following the rules above to avoid point assessment.

You may only attend DIP for a traffic violation once every 36 months.

Montana does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Montana courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Nebraska does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Nebraska courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

The State of Nevada offers two options for traffic school courses. If you receive permission from your jurisdictional court, you may elect to attend traffic school to clear your citation and keep the points from appearing on your driving record. Nevada license holders with three or more points, but less than 12 points, on their record may attend traffic school to receive a three point credit to their driving record. Drivers who elect to take the three point credit traffic school course may not have any violations pending at the time when they take the course.

New Hampshire does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but New Hampshire courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

New Jersey does not have a program for ticket dismissal, but once every five years, drivers may reduce their point total by two points if they complete an approved defensive driving course.

New Mexico does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but New Mexico courts may issue a deferred sentence for traffic violators who complete a driver improvement course, on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Although New York does not have a program for ticket dismissal, once every 18 years, drivers may reduce their point total by four points if they complete an approved defensive driving course. The following limitations apply:

• Point reduction applies only to points assessed for violations that occurred within the 18 months immediately before course completion. It does not affect points for earlier violations, and cannot be used as "credit" against future violations or points.
• Point reduction cannot reduce your point total lower than zero.
• If your license has already been revoked or suspended, or if a violation hearing has already been scheduled, point reduction will not affect that action.
• Point reduction does not prevent, or cancel, a mandatory revocation or suspension for violations such as DWI, DWAI, or three speeding violations within 18 months.

You can only use a Point & Insurance Reduction Program course to reduce points once in an 18-month period.

North Carolina does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but North Carolina courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

North Dakota does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but North Dakota courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Ohio does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Ohio courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Oklahoma does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Oklahoma courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to request permission to attend Traffic School for your violation. If permission is granted, you will need to verify that the Traffic School course you choose is acceptable to your court. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

In order to take a driver improvement course for an Oregon traffic violation you must first contact your jurisdictional court and request permission to do so. If permission is granted, your court will provide you with information on which driver improvement courses they will accept.

Pennsylvania does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Pennsylvania courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to request permission to attend Traffic School for your violation. If permission is granted, you will need to verify that the Traffic School course you choose is acceptable to your court. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Rhode Island does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Rhode Island courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to request permission to attend Traffic School for your violation. If permission is granted, you will need to verify that the Traffic School course you choose is acceptable to your court. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

South Carolina does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but South Carolina courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

South Dakota does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators to dismiss or defer traffic citations. South Dakota does have a state-sanctioned defensive driving course which may lower your insurance rates, but will not have an effect on your driving record or any particular traffic citation.

The state of Tennessee does not have a statewide program to dismiss or defer traffic citations. If you accumulate 12 or more points on your driving record in a 12-month period, you will be sent a notice of proposed suspension and given the opportunity to attend a hearing. In most cases, when you request a hearing you are given the opportunity to attend a state-approved defensive driving course in lieu of license suspension.

You may take traffic school to dismiss a traffic violation once every 12 months. Before enrolling in a traffic school course, you must first ensure that you have court approval to do so.

Utah does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Utah courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Vermont does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Vermont courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

The state of Virginia allows and/or requires drivers to attend traffic school for a variety of reasons. Depending on the severity of your traffic violation, either the court or the DMV may require you to attend a Driver Improvement Clinic. Your lawyer may recommend that you voluntarily attend a Driver Improvement Clinic before your traffic court hearing. The court may grant you permission to attend a Driver Improvement Clinic in order to have the fines reduced or your ticket dismissed, as long as you have not done so for another violation within the last 18 months. Once every 24 months you may voluntarily attend a DMV approved Driver Improvement Clinic in order to receive five safe driving points added to your driving record.

Washington does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Washington courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

West Virginia does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but West Virginia courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Wisconsin does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Wisconsin courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.

Wyoming does not have a statewide traffic school or defensive driving program for traffic violators, but Wyoming courts may allow traffic school courses for traffic violators on an individual basis. Contact your jurisdictional court to find out if they allow traffic school for your violation and if so, which schools they have approved. It is up to the discretion of the individual courts to determine if traffic school may be taken online or in-person.