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4 Tips for Cleaning Your Driving Record
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If you have accumulated points on your driving record, it may seem impossible to clear your record of these mistakes. Each state has specific policies pertaining to the distribution or removal of points on a driving record and you can consult directly with your local DMV for the pertinent information you may need. However, there are a few key tips to follow regardless of where you live that will prove helpful in cleaning your driving record. Most DMV offices will offer the possibility of completing a state-approved driver safety course to aid in cleaning your driving record. Additionally, many states will approve the removal of points if you have maintained a clean driving record for a certain length of time. You may utilize both benefits and enroll in a safe driving course while working toward maintaining a clean driving record to ensure you are doing all you can to clean your record. These options are mostly useful when you have accumulated minor violations on your driving record. However, if you have amassed more serious violations, you may need to file for an expungement of these violations in court to clean them from your driving record.
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1. Driver Safety Courses Can Be Taken by Anyone
Driver safety courses are usually mandated by the state but the types of courses offered depend on the violation you have committed. These courses are also recommended for elderly drivers or younger drivers who are looking to obtain their licenses. The courses are open to anyone who wishes to enroll and they provide simple solutions for cleaning your driving record. You must choose a course that has previously been approved by the state for the certification from the course to be eligible for submission. The DMV will not approve the removal of points from your driving record if you submit a certificate of completion for a course that was not previously approved by the state. These courses will provide important information on the proper rules of the road and which tactics should be followed moving forward to avoid further citations. The completion of a state-approved driver safety course can be utilized to dismiss outstanding traffic tickets as well as the accumulation of points on your driving record. You may also take the course if you are hoping to avoid higher premiums on your car insurance, which may have increased due to your poor driving record.
2. Maintaining a Clean Driving Record Is Crucial
If you are hoping to remove points from your driving record, it is necessary to ensure you are maintaining a clean driving record to avoid the accumulation of points in the future. The information you gain at a driver safety course can be directly applied to your every day driving tactics, which can help prevent future violations. Additionally, if you choose to opt out of taking the state-approved driver safety course, maintaining a clean driving record for a specified period of time will remove any existing points from your record. Each state will mandate its own timelines and regulations, so you will need to consult with the DMV for your state to determine what the allocated time will be. Once you have sustained a violation-free driving record for this pre-determined period, the DMV may remove any outstanding points. You should be able to proceed with a clean driving record after this process has been completed.
3. Violations Are Removable Depending Upon the Offense
While you may utilize driver safety courses to clean your driving record, there are some offenses that will remain on your record regardless of the completion of a state-approved course. Both the driving course and the method of maintaining a clean driving record are generally recommended if you have committed minor violations. More substantial violations, such as DUIs, or driving under the influence, will likely stay on your driving record for a lengthy period determined by your state. These violations can usually be addressed through court proceedings following the violation and likely will not be eligible for removal from the completion of a driving course alone.
4. You May Petition to Have a Violation Removed If Necessary
There are circumstances in which you may have received a driving violation you feel was unwarranted. In these circumstances, you can apply for an expungement of the violation from your driving record. If it is approved by your state, the expungement will also remove the corresponding points from your driving record. However, you must wait for a specified period before you are allowed to apply for expungement. These periods are allocated by the state and you should consult with the local court when determining when you are able to proceed with this process. If the court determines upon receiving your application for expungement that the violation was unwarranted, it will be removed from your driving record. There are instances in which the court will have objections to your filing and you will need to attend a scheduled hearing to address the matter in person. If your expungement is not approved by the state, the violation will remain on your driving record.
