The point system — Kentucky Permit Test

A Kentucky driver aged 18 or over may have their driving privilege suspended on accumulating 12 points within a two-year period, and a driver under 18 on 7 points.

Twelve points is a handful of tickets. Under eighteen the allowance is a little more than half of that.

Upon the accumulation of 12 points (7 points if under age eighteen) within a two-year period, a driver’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle may be suspended.

The purpose of the Kentucky point system is to identify and assist drivers who need improvement before a suspension becomes necessary.

The points are a warning system first. The suspension is what happens when the warnings are ignored.

The purpose of the point system is to identify and assist drivers who need improvement before it becomes necessary to suspend their driving privilege.

Points assessed under the Kentucky system expire two years from the date of conviction.

The points go away on their own. The conviction behind them stays longer.

Points assessed under this system expire two (2) years from the date of conviction.

A Kentucky conviction entry remains part of the driver's record for five years from the conviction date.

Five years is longer than the points last, which is why a clean point total does not mean a clean record.

However, the conviction entry remains part of the driver’s record for a period of five (5) years from the conviction date.

A Kentucky driver who fails to appear for the point hearing is suspended for six months for the first accumulation of twelve points.

Skipping the hearing is the worst option available. Turning up is what gives a driver a chance.

Failure to appear for the hearing results in a driving suspension for a period of six (6) months for the first such accumulation of twelve (12) points

A second accumulation of twelve points in Kentucky brings a one-year suspension after a failure to appear, and any later accumulation within the two-year period brings two years.

The penalty doubles each time, so the second hearing matters even more than the first.

Failure to appear for the hearing results in a driving suspension for a period of six (6) months for the first such accumulation of twelve (12) points, one (1) year for the second such

After a Kentucky point hearing the department may place a driver on probation instead of suspension and require attendance at a driver improvement clinic.

Probation and a class is the way out of a suspension, and it is only offered to someone who appeared.

After a hearing, the department may require the driver to be placed on “probation” in lieu of suspension and attend a driver improvement clinic

A Kentucky driver placed on probation is not considered for probation again until two years have passed from the end of any previous probation period.

The second chance is once every two years, whether the first one was served or not.

Once a driver has been placed on “probation” by the department, he/she shall not be considered for probation again until a lapse of two (2) years from the ending date of any previous probation period granted

How many points within two years may suspend a Kentucky driver aged 18 or over?

12 points. Twelve points is a handful of tickets. Under eighteen the allowance is a little more than half of that. Kentucky Driver Manual, p.17: “Upon the accumulation of 12 points (7 points if under age eighteen) within a two-year period, a driver’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle may be suspended.”