Service Coverage
Home > New Jersey

Sign Up If You Want To:

  • Speak with a professional in detail
    about driving record services.
  • Discover the power of screening
    new hires.
Company Name
First Name
Last Name
Email Address
Phone Number

New Jersey Driving Record

Laws Governing New Jersey Driver Liceses

  • A motorist who operates a motor vehicle in the State of New Jersey must carry a valid driver license, a valid provisional license or a validated New Jersey permit. The motorist must also carry valid insurance and vehicle registration cards.
  • A motorist with a validated New Jersey driver permit must be accompanied by an appropriately licensed driver.
  • A motorist who is a legal resident of New Jersey must be licensed in this state.
  • A motorist who changes addresses must report this change to the MVC within one week after moving. This includes individuals who are moving out of New Jersey.
  • A motorist who legally changes his/her name (marriage, divorce, adoption) must report the change to the MVC within two weeks.
  • A motorist with a valid out-of-state license who moves to New Jersey must apply for a New Jersey license within 60 days (commercial driver license – CDL - within 30 days) or before the current license expires, whichever is sooner. The out-of state license must be surrendered prior to receiving a New Jersey license.
  • A motorist who is a foreign national with a valid license from another country may be eligible for a New Jersey driver license. If the motorist receives a New Jersey license, he/she will not have to surrender the out-of-country license.
  • Operators of commercial vehicles, such as large trucks, buses and vehicles that transport hazardous materials, must satisfy more stringent testing standards than the drivers of automobiles or motorcycles. These operators must still possess a valid, basic New Jersey driver license prior to applying for a CDL.
  • Individuals who have never had a driver license must complete the MVC’s Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program, which introduces driving privileges in phases with a period of supervised driving before getting a basic driver license.
  • All applicants for a New Jersey driver license who are under 18 years of age must present a completed consent form signed by a parent or guardian.
  • GDL, special learner and examination permits are valid until all qualifications for a provisional license are met, or for two years, whichever occurs first. All others are valid for 90 days.
  • All applicants for a New Jersey driver license must provide a full name, current address, Social Security number, 6 Points of ID Verification and other documentation that verifies that their legal presence in the United States is authorized under federal law. Documents must be in English or have an approved translation.

New Jersey License Suspensions

Driving is a privilege, not a right. State law allows or requires an individual’s driving privilege to be suspended for certain motor vehicle violations, which means the driver license will be taken away and the motorist may not drive for a stated period of time. In addition to license suspension, fines and imprisonment may also be imposed for moving violations. The length of suspension time depends on the law that is broken and how many convictions a motorist receives. Likewise, license restoration depends on the types of offenses and the number of convictions. A habitual offender is a motorist whose driver license has been suspended three times in three years. To avoid any problems, it is important to know and obey New Jersey’s traffic laws, which are in place to protect every motorist.

New Jersey Motor Vehicle Violations

  • Unsafe driving: A conviction of unsafe driving that endangers a person or property requires payment of a fine of not less than $50 or more than $150 for a first offense; not less than $100 or more than $250 for a second offense; and not less than $200 or more than $500 for a third offense. Motorist may be assessed motor vehicle penalty points if the offense occurs within five years of the prior offense. There is also a $250 court surcharge for each offense (N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.2)
  • Reckless driving: Driving recklessly in a manner that willfully endangers the rights, property or safety of others is punishable by imprisonment of up to 60 days, or by a fine of not less than $50 or more than $200, or both for a first offense (N.J.S.A. 39:4-96). Points are assessed.
  • Abandoning a vehicle: Motorists who abandon their motor vehicles on or along limited-access highways for four hours or more without permission are subject to a fine of not less than $100 or more than $500 and possible loss of driving privileges for up to two years. For subsequent violations the fine is not less than $500 or more than $1,000, and the suspension is up to five years. The same penalties apply when owners abandon their vehicles on any highway or public property without consent for 48 hours or more and when owners abandon their vehicles for any period without current license plates (N.J.S.A. 39:4-56.5).
  • Carrying alcoholic beverages: Motorists who carry open or unsealed alcoholic beverage containers in passenger areas of motor vehicles are subject to a fine of $200 for a first offense and $250 or 10 days of community service for all subsequent offenses (N.J.S.A. 39:4-51a).
  • Ice and snow: Motorists of private vehicles face fines of $200 to $1,000 for each time ice flies from their vehicles and causes death, injury or property damage. Fines for commercial owners and operators range from $500 to $1,500 (N.J.S.A. 39:4-77.1).
  • Highway construction zones: Speeding or other moving violations in areas undergoing highway construction mean doubled fines. Some offenses include reckless driving, careless driving, speeding, improper passing, tailgating, improper turns, failure to observe traffic lanes, failure to observe a traffic signal or sign and failure to obey directions of an officer (N.J.S.A. 39:4-203.5).
  • 65 mph zone: Speeding 10 mph or more above the posted speed limit or other certain moving violations in a 65-mph speed zone means doubled fines. Some offenses include racing on a public highway, refusal to comply with an officer’s request, or failure to obey traffic signs or signals, failure to comply with rules for passing another vehicle, failure to obey road markings, failure to observe distance between vehicles and careless driving (N.J.S.A. 39:4-98.6).
  • Failure to comply: Motorists face a $50 fine if they fail to comply with a police officer’s request to illuminate the driver’s compartment of the vehicle when stopped (N.J.S.A. 39:4-57.1).
  • Insurance fraud: Motorists convicted of fraud on insurance applications and claims forms may receive fines of up to $5,000, or imprisonment for up to three years, or both. In the event the motorist fraudulently receives $500 or less, he/she may be fined up to $500 and/or imprisoned for not more than six months as a disorderly person. In addition, a person convicted of an automobile insurance crime will lose his/her driver license for one year (N.J.S.A. 39:6A-15).
  • Drug offense: A New Jersey motorist’s driving privileges will be suspended after he/she is convicted of drug offenses in any federal or state court.
  • Hit-and-run: A hit-and-run involving bodily injury or death results in a fine of $2,500 to $5,000 and/or 180 days in jail for the motorist. In addition, for a first offense, the motorist loses his/her license for one year. For subsequent offense, the motorist permanently loses his/her license (N.J.S.A. 39:4-129).
  • Lying on application: Lying when applying for a license or registration will result in a fine of not less than $200 or more than $500 and/or up to six months imprisonment. A motorist will also lose his/her driver license privileges for six months to two years (N.J.S. A. 39:3-37).
  • Forgery and fraud: Altering, forging and/or possession with intent to distribute a facsimile of a N.J. driver license is illegal and will result in up to a $150,000 fine, up to 10 years in prison and a driver license suspension (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-2.1).
  • Driving while suspended: Driving while a driver license and/or registration is suspended can result in the following penalties:
    • First offense: Fine of $500 and up to six months additional license and or registration suspension (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40)
    • Second offense: Fine of $750, jail sentence for not more than five days and up to six months additional license and/or registration suspension (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40)
    • Third offense: Fine of $1,000, a 10-day jail sentence and up to six months additional license and/or registration suspension (N.J.S.A. 39:3-40).

New Hampshire Habitual Offenders

The New Hampshire legislature has declared it to be a policy of the State of New Hampshire to provide maximum safety for all persons who travel or otherwise use the highways of this state.

This policy denies the privilege of driving vehicles to persons who, by their conduct and record, have shown their indifference for the safety and welfare of others, disrespect for the laws of the state, and indifference to orders of the courts and of administrative agencies.

When it is decided that any person is a Habitual Offender within the meaning of the law, the Director shall issue an order requiring that the person appear for a hearing to show cause why that person should not be barred from driving a motor vehicle in this state.

If the Director finds that the person’s record contains the number of valid convictions required by law, the Director shall revoke the person’s driver license and direct the person not to drive a motor vehicle in this state for 1-4 years.

If, after having been declared a Habitual Offender and being convicted of driving a vehicle on a way of this state while the order is in effect, that person shall be subject to imprisonment for not less than one year, and up to 5 years.

New Jersey Drunk Driving

Drivers under age 21 (the legal age to purchase/consume an alcoholic beverage) found with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at .01 percent or more while operating a motor vehicle will be penalized (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50.14). The current BAC for drivers age 21 and older is .08 percent (N.J.S.A. 39:4-50).

If a driver under age 21 buys or drinks alcohol in a place with an alcoholic beverage license, he/she may be fined $500 and lose his/her license for six months. If a person under age 21 does not have a driver license, the suspension starts when he/she is first eligible to receive a license. Also, the person may be required to participate in an alcohol education or treatment program.

Driving Offense ConvictionLoss of LicenseFines, Fees, SurchargesImprisonmentCommunity Service (CS), IDRC, or Detainment
Drinking alcoholic beverages while driving or riding (second offense)N/A$250 fineN/A10 days CS
Driving on DUI suspensionAdditional 1-2 yrs$500 fine; $250 per yr for 3 yrs surcharge10-90 daysN/A
Driving with no insurance (first offense)1 year$300-$1,000 fine; $250 per yr for 3 yrs surchargeN/ACS determined by court
Driving with no insurance (second offense)2 yearsUp to $5,000 fine; $250 per year for 3 yrs surcharge14 days30 days CS
Driving with possessing drugs2 yearsMin. $50 fineN/AN/A

New Jersey Point System

The MVC keeps track of a motorist’s driving record by adding points to the record when the motorist is convicted of a moving violation. The more serious the violation, the more points the motorist is given. See the following point chart for various violations.

PointsType of Violation
2N.J.S.A. 27:23-29 Moving against traffic: New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway
4N.J.S.A. 27:23-29 Improper passing: New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway
2N.J.S.A. 27:23-29 Unlawful use of median strip: New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway
3N.J.S.A. 39:3-20 Operating a constructor vehicle in excess of 45 mph
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.3 Operating a motorized bicycle on a restricted highway
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-14.3d More than one person on a motorized bicycle
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-35 Failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-36 Failure to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk; passing a vehicle yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-41 Driving through a safety zone
5Racing on highway
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-55 Improper action or omission on grades and curves
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-57 Failure to observe a direction of an officer
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-66 Failure to stop a vehicle before crossing a sidewalk
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-66.1 Failure to yield to pedestrians or vehicles while entering or leaving a highway
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-66.2 Operating a motor vehicle on public or private property to avoid a traffic control signal or sign
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-71 Operating a motor vehicle on a sidewalk
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-80 Failure to obey a direction of an officer
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-81 Failure to observe traffic signals
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-82 Failure to keep right
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-82.1 Improper operating of a vehicle on a divided highway or divider
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-83 Failure to keep right at an intersection
5N.J.S.A. 39:4-84 Failure to pass right of vehicle proceeding in opposite direction
4N.J.S.A. 39:4-85 Improper passing on right or off roadway
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-85.1 Wrong way on a one-way street
4N.J.S.A. 39:4-86 Improper passing in a no passing zone
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-87 Failure to yield to an overtaking vehicle
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-88 Failure to observe traffic lanes
5N.J.S.A. 39:4-89 Tailgating
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-90 Failure to yield at an intersection
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-90.1 Failure to use proper entrances to limited access highyways
2Failure to yield to emergency vehicles
5N.J.S.A. 39:4-96 Reckless driving
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-97 Careless driving
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-97a Destruction of agricultural or recreational property
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.1 Slow speed blocking traffic
4N.J.S.A. 39:4-97.2 Driving in an unsafe manner (points only assessed for the third or subsequent violation(s) within a five year period)
2Exceeding maximum speed 1-14 mph over the limit
4Exceeding maximum speed 15-29 mph over the limit
5Exceeding maximum speed 30 mph or more over the limit
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-105 Failure to stop for a traffic light
3N.J.S.A. 39:4-115 Improper turn at a traffic light
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-119 Failure to stop at a flashing red signal
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-122 Failure to stop for a police whistle
3N.J.S.A. 39:4-123 Improper right or left turn
3N.J.S.A. 39:4-124 Improper turn from an approved turning course
3N.J.S.A. 39:4-125 Improper U-turn
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-126 Failure to give proper signal
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-127 Improper backing or turning in street
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-127.1 Improper crossing of a railroad grade crossing
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-127.2 Improper crossing of a bridge
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-128 Improper crossing of a railroad grade crossing by certain vehicles
5N.J.S.A. 39:4-128.1 Improper passing of a school bus
4N.J.S.A. 39:4-128.4 Improper passing of a frozen dessert truck
N.J.S.A. 39:4-129 Leaving the scene of an accident
2No personal injury
8Personal injury
2N.J.S.A. 39:4-144 Failure to observe Stop or Yield signs
2N.J.S.A. 39:5D-4 Moving violation out of state

Additional New Jersey Resources

New Jersey County Coverage

New Jersey City Coverage
XML Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Contact Us