The Advice Doctor

Will he ever get one right?

Probably not.

Questions. And answers. On page 13.

FEBRUARY 17 2023 OUR NEXT ISSUE DATE

More Americans have died on US roads since 2006 than in World Wars I & II combined

POINTS?

WHAT ARE POINTS?

People who don’t drive safely have more than just traffic tickets to worry about. There can be jail time for serious offenses. Depending on how poorly someone drives, the total ramifications of bad driving can be extremely expensive. Citations and fines alone can add up to thousands of dollars in direct costs. Added to those can be towing and impound fees, court costs, and attorney fees. And there can be massive indirect costs too: lost wages while someone is in jail or attending court, car rental costs that may not be covered by insurance, and speaking of insurance, there can be huge increases in insurance premiums — and it’s illegal to drive without it.

How do insurance rate increases work?

The corporate policies of individual insurance companies vary from provider to provider, but one of the factors are the point systems maintained by state motor vehicle departments. In South Carolina, a driver’s license will be suspended if he accrues 12 points or more on his driving record. No time limit is specified. Georgia suspends the licenses of drivers if they accrue 15 points or more over the course of 24 months.

How does one earn points? Not by doing anything good.

In the Palmetto State, here are a few common offenses from the point schedule for regular motor vehicle drivers:

• Speeding over the posted limit by: No more than 10 MPH: 2 points. Over 10 MPH but under 25 MPH: 3 points. 25 MPH or faster: 6 points.

• Failure to yield right of way: 4 points.

• Making an illegal turn: 4 points.

• Following another vehicle too closely: 4 points.

• Reckless driving: 6 points.

• Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in property damage: 6 points.

“Regular” drivers are mentioned above because those with a CDL (commercial driver’s license) may receive higher points for the same offenses as car drivers, and they’re subject to automatic suspension of their license.

In Georgia, here are some common offenses and their corresponding points:

• Speeding 15 through 18 MPH over the posted speed limit—2 points.

• Having an open alcohol container in the car—2 points.

• Speeding 19 through 23 MPH over the posted limit—3 points.

• Not obeying a police officer—3 points.

• Speeding 24 through 33 MPH over the posted speed limit—4 points.

• Reckless driving—4 points.

• Speeding 34 MPH or faster over the posted limit—6 points.

• Aggressive driving—6 points.

There are ways to get around the severe penalties of exceeding the point limits. Both Georgia and South Carolina may allow a driver to have his or her license reinstated by successfully completing a defensive driving course. But it’s not something that can be employed at will. In fact, although Georgia will reduce an offender’s point totals by as many as 7 points for completing a defensive driving class, the class option is only available once every five years.

A good driver can go through a lifetime of driving without ever accruing a single point. That should be every driver’s goal.