Find DMV Offices
Find Service Providers
U.S. Passports
Does Rhode Island Use A Points System?
There are many states in the United States that use a demerit points system when it comes to your driving record. However, Rhode Island is one of the few states in the United States that does not use a points system for this purpose. The state of Rhode Island seeks to dissuade drivers from breaking traffic laws via fines and the threat of suspending or revoking their driver’s license. This makes Rhode Island unique when it comes to traffic violations. However, you should also note that this means that Rhode Island punishes major traffic violations more harshly.
Traffic Violations in Rhode Island
As previously stated, Rhode Island does not utilize a points system when it comes to traffic violations. As a result, different violations do not get you any points on your driver’s license. However, as in any state, some traffic violations are more serious and some are less serious.
Following another car too closely, running a traffic light, and speeding are some less severe traffic violations. Driving under the influence of alcohol, vehicular manslaughter (involuntary or voluntary), and not stopping when you get in an accident that causes death or injury are far more severe. All of these lead to your driver’s license being revoked immediately and this punishment is mandatory for these offenses.
Paying for Traffic Tickets in Rhode Island
There are several ways that you can pay for a traffic ticket in the state of Rhode Island. However, your options depend somewhat on the court that is handling your citation. If you get a Traffic Tribunal ticket, you can pay for it online by going here.
You do not have the option to pay for your ticket online if a municipal court is handling your ticket. Your ticket should tell you whether the Traffic Tribunal of Rhode Island or a municipal court is handling your particular citation. You should also see which municipal court is handling your citation on your ticket if your case is up to a municipal court in the state. You can pay for a ticket handled by a municipal court by phone, by mail, or in person.
Rhode Island Driver Improvement
Rhode Island seeks to make sure that all drivers in the state drive safely. To that end, the state offers several kinds of traffic school programs. If you commit an excessive number of traffic violations, you might have to take a defensive driving course or a driver improvement course. This is just part of the process of dealing with too many violations. You can find out more about these programs and the Driver Retraining Department of the Rhode Island DMV here.
Rhode Island Driver’s License Suspension
You will find that there are several reasons why the Rhode Island DMV may suspend your driver’s license. You can get it suspended due to traffic violations, offenses related to alcohol or drug use, and refusing to take a blood-alcohol test. You will receive a suspension notice from the Rhode Island DMV if your driver’s license gets suspended. If you are unsure about the status of your driver’s license, you can check it using the Rhode Island DMV Status Check.
