Updated
Under the Colorado point system, your driver’s license can be suspended for six months to one year if you accumulate too many demerits from moving violations. Adults drivers age 21 or over face suspension if they sustain 12 or more points within a 12-month period, or 18 or more points during a 24-month period. License-holders can contest their suspension at a Colorado DMV point hearing.
How many points on a Colorado license will trigger a suspension?
The number of driver’s license points at which the Colorado DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) will suspend your driving privileges depends on your age and whether you are a professional driver.
Adult drivers 21 years of age and older:
- 12 points in 12-month period, or
- 18 points in 24-month period.
Minor drivers ages 18-20:
- 9 points in 12 month period of time,
- 12 points in 24 consecutive months, or
- 14 points or more between the ages of 18 and 21 years old.
Minor drivers under 18:
- 6 points in 12 months, or
- 7 points before turning 18.
“Chauffeurs”:
The DMV uses a different system for those whose demerits were incurred entirely while employed as a professional driver. Under the Colorado point system, professional drivers include taxi cab drivers as well as traditional chauffeurs. It is up to you, however, to prove the traffic violations occurred during the course of your employment.
The number of “chauffeur” points triggering a Colorado driver’s license suspension are:
- 16 points in 12 months,
- 24 points in 24 months, or
- 28 points in 48 months.
What are examples of DMV points?
The following are some examples of the number of points for various Colorado driving crimes and traffic infractions:
- DUI (driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol): 12
- DUI per se (driving with a BAC of .08% or higher): 12
- Speeding 40 mph or more over limit: 12
- Leaving the scene of an accident: 12
- Speed contests: 12
- Evading / eluding an officer: 12
- DWAI (driving while ability impaired): 8
- Reckless driving: 8
- Speeding 20 mph to 39 mph over limit: 6
- Failure to stop for a school bus: 6
- Speeding 10 mph to 19 mph over limit: 4
- Careless driving: 4
- UDD (underage drinking and driving): 4
- Failure to show or maintain proof of insurance: 4
- Improper passing: 4
- Failure to yield to emergency vehicle: 4
- Failure to observe traffic sign or signal: 4
- Driving on wrong side of road: 4
- Careless driving: 4
- Driving through safety zone: 3
- Improper turn: 3
- Driving on wrong direction on one-way street: 3
- Failure to yield right of way: 3
- Operating an unsafe vehicle: 2
- Failure to dim – or turn on – lights: 2
- Improper backing: 2
- Improper signal / failure to signal: 2
- Speeding 5 mph to 9 mph over limit: 1
Adults drivers age 21 or older face a license suspension if they accumulate 12 or more points in a year.
What is a DMV point hearing?
DMV point hearings are administrative trials at the Colorado DMV where people who face a driver’s license suspension for accruing too many DMV points can contest their suspension. Everyone who faces a license suspension is entitled to a hearing, and the DMV mails license-holders a notice of the date and time of their hearing.
DMV point hearings occur in person or over the phone. License-holders can appear by themselves or with their attorneys. They are less formal than criminal proceedings. But similar to trials, at DMV hearings the license holder can present evidence and witnesses and cross-examine state witnesses, such as the police officer.
The hearing officer presiding over the DMV hearing decides whether enough evidence exists to suspend the person’s license. The hearing officer has the discretion to impose a suspension of six months to one year. People who do not attend their DMV hearing get their license automatically suspended for one year.
What are the requirements for reinstatement of my Colorado license?
The requirements for reinstatement of your license vary depending on what the point suspension or revocation was for. But in most cases they include:
- Application for reinstatement (Form DR 2870),
- A reinstatement fee of $95, and
- Proof of insurance.
In addition, if you refused a DUI chemical test or your license was revoked or suspended due to alcohol and/or drug use, you may be required to provide some or all of the following:
- a Colorado DR 2598 certification form
- SR-22 from your insurance company,
- affidavit of enrollment in an alcohol and drug education and treatment program (Form DR 2643), and/or
- Restricted License Ignition Interlock Agreement Affidavit (Form DR 2058).
You may also be subject to an eligibility hearing if your license was suspended due to:
- Vehicular homicide, or
- Criminally negligent homicide or vehicular assault while driving.
Finally, if your license was revoked (as opposed to suspended), you will be required to take new eye, written and driving tests.
How do I check my Colorado driving record?
You can purchase a non-certified copy of your Colorado motor vehicle record at any full-service driver’s license office. For a certified copy, you must contact:
Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles
1881 Pierce St.
Lakewood, CO 80214.
Written requests must include:
- Your full name
- Date of birth
- Driver license number (if available)
- Full and legible signature
- Photocopy of driver photo ID with signature
- Check for $2.60 (for non-certified copy) or $3.20 (for a certified copy).
To report traffic violation errors on your driving record, you can call the Colorado DMV at (303) 205-5600 or TDD (303) 205-5940.
Call our law firm for legal advice and to discuss creating an attorney-client relationship. Our defense attorneys offer free consultations.
Communities we serve include Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora, Fort Collins, Lakewood, Thornton, Arvada, Westminster, Centennial, and elsewhere in the state of Colorado. The initial consultation is free.
Also, see our article on Colorado DUI laws.