New Jersey Traffic Defense

New Jersey charges you twice for the same ticket. The MVC adds points that count toward a suspension at twelve, and a separate surcharge bill arrives once you cross six points in three years. The convictions never leave your abstract, but the active point total can be brought down. Here is how the system works and where a ticket is worth fighting.

12Points trigger a suspension

3Points off per clean year

$150Surcharge a year for 3 years

Twelve is the line

Reach 12 or more active points and the MVC issues a Notice of Proposed Suspension. You have 20 days to accept it, request a hearing, or show point reduction credits that drop you back under 12. Suspension length runs from 30 days at the low end and climbs with your total.

Six points starts the bill

Cross 6 points within 3 years and the MVC assesses a surcharge of $150 a year for three years, plus $25 a year for every point above 6. That is separate from your court fine and from whatever your insurer does to your premium.

Points come back down

Twelve consecutive months with no moving violation or suspension removes 3 points, and it repeats each clean year. An MVC-approved defensive driving course removes 2 more, once every five years. The conviction itself stays on your record permanently.