New Jersey Traffic Laws: Points, Tickets, License Suspension and DUI
New Jersey driving rules: point system, speeding points, traffic school, how to pay or fight a ticket, license suspension, DUI limits and penalties.
Quick answers for New Jersey
- Point system
- New Jersey uses a point system. A driver with 12 or more points on the current driving record has the license suspended after a notice of scheduled suspension by mail. NJ MVC, Suspensions and Restorations (Points System)
- Points for speeding
- Exceeding the maximum speed by 1–14 mph is 2 points; by 15–29 mph is 4 points; by 30 mph or more is 5 points. NJ MVC, New Jersey Point Schedule (N.J.S.A. 39:4-98)
- Legal BAC limit
- 0.08% or greater for adult drivers. A driver under 21 is subject to underage DUI penalties at 0.01% or higher. NJ MVC, Suspensions and Restorations (DUI)
- First-offense DUI penalties
- According to the MVC penalty tables: for a first DUI at 0.08% to under 0.10% (or based on observation), a $250–$400 fine, up to 30 days in jail, 12–48 hours at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC), $1,000 per year surcharge for 3 years plus other fees, and 3 months of license loss. NJ MVC, Suspensions and Restorations – Penalties (DUI tables)
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Tickets and points
| Point system | New Jersey uses a point system. A driver with 12 or more points on the current driving record has the license suspended after a notice of scheduled suspension by mail. Six or more points within three years leads to an MVC surcharge. A moving violation committed outside New Jersey is assessed 2 points. |
|---|---|
| Points for speeding | Exceeding the maximum speed by 1–14 mph is 2 points; by 15–29 mph is 4 points; by 30 mph or more is 5 points. |
| How long points last | The MVC keeps a permanent record of all points earned. Drivers can earn deductions: 3 points for each year with no violations or suspensions (the year begins on the date of the violation or most recent restoration). Insurance companies might not factor these deductions into rates. |
| Traffic school | Completing an MVC-approved Defensive Driving Program removes 2 points, once every five years. The Driver Improvement Program removes 3 points, once every two years, when taken in response to MVC proposed action; the Probationary Driver Program (3 points) is completed once when ordered by the MVC. These programs reduce points; they do not dismiss a ticket. |
| Paying or fighting a ticket | If the 'Court Appearance Required' box is not checked and the charge is on the Statewide or Local Violations Bureau Schedule, the driver may plead guilty and pay the fine without going to court, at the municipal court payment window, by mail, or online at NJMCdirect.com. Paying the fine is a guilty plea. To contest, the driver pleads not guilty and the case is heard in municipal court (there are no juries in municipal court). A defendant may appeal within 20 days of a conviction. |
| Paying or looking up a ticket online | If the ticket does not require a court appearance, you can pay the fine online by credit card through NJMCdirect, the Judiciary's municipal court payment system; paying the fine means pleading guilty. You need the court ID, ticket number and your license number. You can also call the municipal court to arrange to pay by check or cash at the court. If you don't have the ticket, use the Municipal Court Case Search or call the court where it was written; if you don't know where, call 609-421-6100. NJMCdirect: https://portal.njcourts.gov/webe11/atswepr2/home.do |
License suspension
| License suspension | Grounds include 12 or more points, DUI convictions, refusing a breath test, failing to pay DUI or MVC surcharges (indefinite suspension), and court-ordered suspensions (for example, for unpaid parking tickets, which the MVC records at the direction of the municipal courts).Driving while suspended for DUI brings an additional 1–2 years of license loss. |
|---|---|
| Checking and reinstating a license | Suspensions are usually announced by a mailed notice of scheduled suspension; you can review your record by requesting your driver history from the MVC. To restore your license, resolve the reason for the suspension, complete any suspension period, submit proof that outstanding fines or tickets are paid, and pay the $100 restoration fee online, in person at a Regional Service Center, or by check or money order payable to NJMVC (P.O. Box 165, Trenton, NJ 08666-0165, with your driver license number). The MVC then mails a Notice of Restoration. Online restoration fee payment: https://emvc.state.nj.us/mvc/emvc_dvrfee.shtml |
DUI / DWI
| Legal BAC limit | 0.08% or greater for adult drivers. A driver under 21 is subject to underage DUI penalties at 0.01% or higher. |
|---|---|
| First-offense DUI penalties | According to the MVC penalty tables: for a first DUI at 0.08% to under 0.10% (or based on observation), a $250–$400 fine, up to 30 days in jail, 12–48 hours at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC), $1,000 per year surcharge for 3 years plus other fees, and 3 months of license loss. For a first DUI at 0.10% or higher (or drug-related), a $300–$500 fine, up to 30 days in jail, IDRC, the same surcharges, and 7 months to 1 year of license loss; at 0.15% or higher, an ignition interlock during the suspension and 6 months to 1 year after restoration. Underage DUI (0.01%+) brings a 30–90 day suspension, 15–30 days of community service and IDRC programs. New Jersey's 2019 DUI law changes relied heavily on ignition interlock; confirm the MVC tables reflect current N.J.S.A. 39:4-50 before publishing. |
| When a DUI is a felony | In New Jersey, DWI itself is never a felony, or even a crime. The New Jersey Supreme Court has said DWI is a motor-vehicle offense, not a crime under New Jersey law, no matter how many prior offenses the person has. The state uses separate criminal statutes when a DWI results in injury or death: death by auto (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5) and assault by auto (N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(c)). For those crimes, driving while intoxicated allows an inference of recklessness and can increase the penalties. Repeat DWI brings heavier motor-vehicle penalties (for example, a 3rd offense within 10 years of the 2nd brings a 10-year license loss) instead of a felony charge. |
| Refusing a breath test | Drivers give implied consent to breath testing. A driver arrested for DUI who refuses may be taken to a hospital for a blood draw. A first refusal conviction carries 7 months to 1 year of license loss (1–2 years in a school zone), a $300–$500 fine ($600–$1,000 in a school zone), IDRC fees and a $1,000-per-year surcharge for 3 years, and an ignition interlock during the suspension and 6 months to 1 year after restoration. |
| DUI lookback period | 10 years. The MVC tables apply second-offense penalties to a DUI within 10 years of the prior offense, and third-offense penalties to a DUI within 10 years of the second. The table's footnote on how the 10-year 'step-down' applies was not captured. |
| How long a DUI stays on your record | Because DWI is a motor-vehicle offense, the New Jersey Supreme Court has said it is not included in a person's criminal history record (N.J.A.C. 13:59-1.1). It also cannot be expunged as a criminal record (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-28). For penalties, the MVC treats a DWI as a 2nd offense if it falls within 10 years of the prior one, and a 3rd offense if within 10 years of the 2nd. |
| Sobriety checkpoints | Legal and used. The New Jersey Attorney General's Division of Highway Traffic Safety funds 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaigns. For the August 19 to September 7, 2026 campaign, it said drivers could expect increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints. |
Phones and distracted driving
| Phone and texting laws | Using a handheld cellphone or electronic communication device while driving is a violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.3. Under the MVC point schedule, 3 points are assessed for a third offense occurring within 10 years of a second offense and for all later offenses. |
|---|
Where to get help in New Jersey
Traffic Tickets & DUI FAQ
How does the driver point system work in New Jersey?
New Jersey uses a point system. A driver with 12 or more points on the current driving record has the license suspended after a notice of scheduled suspension by mail. Six or more points within three years leads to an MVC surcharge. A moving violation committed outside New Jersey is assessed 2 points.
How many points is a speeding ticket in New Jersey?
Exceeding the maximum speed by 1–14 mph is 2 points; by 15–29 mph is 4 points; by 30 mph or more is 5 points.
How long do points stay on your license in New Jersey?
The MVC keeps a permanent record of all points earned. Drivers can earn deductions: 3 points for each year with no violations or suspensions (the year begins on the date of the violation or most recent restoration).
Can traffic school remove a ticket or points in New Jersey?
Completing an MVC-approved Defensive Driving Program removes 2 points, once every five years. The Driver Improvement Program removes 3 points, once every two years, when taken in response to MVC proposed action; the Probationary Driver Program (3 points) is completed once when ordered by the MVC. These programs reduce points; they do not dismiss a ticket.
How do I pay or look up a traffic ticket online in New Jersey?
If the ticket does not require a court appearance, you can pay the fine online by credit card through NJMCdirect, the Judiciary's municipal court payment system; paying the fine means pleading guilty. You need the court ID, ticket number and your license number. You can also call the municipal court to arrange to pay by check or cash at the court. If you don't have the ticket, use the Municipal Court Case Search or call the court where it was written; if you don't know where, call 609-421-6100.
How do I check if my license is suspended and get it reinstated in New Jersey?
Suspensions are usually announced by a mailed notice of scheduled suspension; you can review your record by requesting your driver history from the MVC. To restore your license, resolve the reason for the suspension, complete any suspension period, submit proof that outstanding fines or tickets are paid, and pay the $100 restoration fee online, in person at a Regional Service Center, or by check or money order payable to NJMVC (P.O. Box 165, Trenton, NJ 08666-0165, with your driver license number). The MVC then mails a Notice of Restoration.
How do you pay or contest a traffic ticket in New Jersey?
If the 'Court Appearance Required' box is not checked and the charge is on the Statewide or Local Violations Bureau Schedule, the driver may plead guilty and pay the fine without going to court, at the municipal court payment window, by mail, or online at NJMCdirect.com. Paying the fine is a guilty plea. To contest, the driver pleads not guilty and the case is heard in municipal court (there are no juries in municipal court). A defendant may appeal within 20 days of a conviction.
What gets your license suspended in New Jersey?
Grounds include 12 or more points, DUI convictions, refusing a breath test, failing to pay DUI or MVC surcharges (indefinite suspension), and court-ordered suspensions (for example, for unpaid parking tickets, which the MVC records at the direction of the municipal courts).Driving while suspended for DUI brings an additional 1–2 years of license loss.
What is the legal blood alcohol limit in New Jersey?
0.08% or greater for adult drivers. A driver under 21 is subject to underage DUI penalties at 0.01% or higher.
What is the penalty for a first DUI in New Jersey?
According to the MVC penalty tables: for a first DUI at 0.08% to under 0.10% (or based on observation), a $250–$400 fine, up to 30 days in jail, 12–48 hours at an Intoxicated Driver Resource Center (IDRC), $1,000 per year surcharge for 3 years plus other fees, and 3 months of license loss. For a first DUI at 0.10% or higher (or drug-related), a $300–$500 fine, up to 30 days in jail, IDRC, the same surcharges, and 7 months to 1 year of license loss; at 0.15% or higher, an ignition interlock during the suspension and 6 months to 1 year after restoration. Underage DUI (0.01%+) brings a 30–90 day suspension, 15–30 days of community service and IDRC programs.
What happens if you refuse a breathalyzer in New Jersey?
Drivers give implied consent to breath testing. A driver arrested for DUI who refuses may be taken to a hospital for a blood draw. A first refusal conviction carries 7 months to 1 year of license loss (1–2 years in a school zone), a $300–$500 fine ($600–$1,000 in a school zone), IDRC fees and a $1,000-per-year surcharge for 3 years, and an ignition interlock during the suspension and 6 months to 1 year after restoration.
How long does a DUI count as a prior offense in New Jersey?
10 years. The MVC tables apply second-offense penalties to a DUI within 10 years of the prior offense, and third-offense penalties to a DUI within 10 years of the second.
Is it illegal to hold your phone while driving in New Jersey?
Using a handheld cellphone or electronic communication device while driving is a violation of N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.3. Under the MVC point schedule, 3 points are assessed for a third offense occurring within 10 years of a second offense and for all later offenses.
Is a DUI a felony in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, DWI itself is never a felony, or even a crime. The New Jersey Supreme Court has said DWI is a motor-vehicle offense, not a crime under New Jersey law, no matter how many prior offenses the person has. The state uses separate criminal statutes when a DWI results in injury or death: death by auto (N.J.S.A. 2C:11-5) and assault by auto (N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(c)). For those crimes, driving while intoxicated allows an inference of recklessness and can increase the penalties.
How long does a DUI stay on your record in New Jersey?
Because DWI is a motor-vehicle offense, the New Jersey Supreme Court has said it is not included in a person's criminal history record (N.J.A.C. 13:59-1.1). It also cannot be expunged as a criminal record (N.J.S.A. 2C:52-28). For penalties, the MVC treats a DWI as a 2nd offense if it falls within 10 years of the prior one, and a 3rd offense if within 10 years of the 2nd.
Are DUI checkpoints legal in New Jersey?
Legal and used. The New Jersey Attorney General's Division of Highway Traffic Safety funds 'Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over' campaigns. For the August 19 to September 7, 2026 campaign, it said drivers could expect increased patrols and sobriety checkpoints.
Traffic Tickets & DUI in other states
More New Jersey law
- New Jersey tenant rights & landlord-tenant law
- New Jersey small claims court
- New Jersey wills, probate & estates
- New Jersey protective & restraining orders
- New Jersey employment law
- New Jersey debt & collections
- New Jersey unemployment benefits
- New Jersey divorce & family law
- New Jersey expungement & criminal records
- New Jersey personal injury & wrongful death
- New Jersey workers' compensation
- New Jersey foreclosure & homeowner law
- New Jersey consumer protection
- New Jersey starting an llc & small business
- New Jersey bankruptcy
- New Jersey car insurance & vehicle laws
- New Jersey property tax & homestead exemptions
- New Jersey criminal law
- New Jersey gun laws
- Find a lawyer or free legal help in New Jersey
- All New Jersey law guides
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.