Colorado license points
12 points in 12 months
What the rule says happens: the department has the authority to suspend the license
the department has the authority to suspend the license of any driver who, in accordance with the schedule of points set forth in this section, has been convicted of traffic violations resulting in the accumulation of twelve points or more within any twelve consecutive months or eighteen points or more within any twenty-four consecutive months
Points for each violation
| Violation, in Colorado’s wording | Points |
|---|---|
One to four miles per hour over the reasonable and prudent speed or one to four miles per hour over the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour | 0 |
Five to nine miles per hour over the reasonable and prudent speed or five to nine miles per hour over the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour | 1 |
Ten to nineteen miles per hour over the reasonable and prudent speed or ten to nineteen miles per hour over the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour | 4 |
Twenty to thirty-nine miles per hour over the reasonable and prudent speed or twenty to thirty-nine miles per hour over the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour | 6 |
Forty or more miles per hour over the reasonable and prudent speed or forty or more miles per hour over the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour | 12 |
Failure to reduce speed below an otherwise lawful speed when a special hazard exists | 3 |
Failure to observe traffic sign or signal, except as provided in paragraph (ff) of this subsection (5) | 4 |
Reckless driving | 8 |
Careless driving | 4 |
Following too closely | 4 |
Failure to stop for school bus | 6 |
A violation of section 42-4-239 if the person has not been convicted of the same violation within the immediately preceding twenty-four months | 2 |
Leaving scene of accident | 12 |
DUI or DUI per se | 12 |
Improper passing | 4 |
Improper turn | 3 |
These are the lines we have. Colorado’s full schedule is at the source links and may list more.
Sources for these lines, word for word
(I) One to four miles per hour over the reasonable and prudent speed or one to four miles per hour over the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour 0
(II) Five to nine miles per hour over the reasonable and prudent speed or five to nine miles per hour over the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour 1
(III) Ten to nineteen miles per hour over the reasonable and prudent speed or ten to nineteen miles per hour over the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour 4
(IV) Twenty to thirty-nine miles per hour over the reasonable and prudent speed or twenty to thirty-nine miles per hour over the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour 6
(IV.5) Forty or more miles per hour over the reasonable and prudent speed or forty or more miles per hour over the maximum lawful speed limit of seventy-five miles per hour 12
(V) Failure to reduce speed below an otherwise lawful speed when a special hazard exists 3
(l) Failure to observe traffic sign or signal, except as provided in paragraph (ff) of this subsection (5) 4
(d) Reckless driving 8
(e) Careless driving 4
(k) Following too closely 4
(j) Failure to stop for school bus 6
(jj) A violation of section 42-4-239 if the person has not been convicted of the same violation within the immediately preceding twenty-four months 2
(a) Leaving scene of accident 12
(I) DUI or DUI per se 12
(i) Improper passing 4
(o) Improper turn 3
When points lead to a suspension or other action
| Points | Within | The rule’s wording | What happens | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 12 months | see the rule | the department has the authority to suspend the license | see the rule |
| 18 | 24 months | see the rule | the department has the authority to suspend the license | see the rule |
| 16 | 1 year | see the rule | subjection to suspension of the license | a chauffeur who, in the course of employment, has as a principal duty the operation of a motor vehicle |
| 24 | 2 years | see the rule | subjection to suspension of the license | a chauffeur who, in the course of employment, has as a principal duty the operation of a motor vehicle |
Whether a rule means that many points or more, or more than that many, is in the rule’s own words below.
The rules, word for word
the department has the authority to suspend the license of any driver who, in accordance with the schedule of points set forth in this section, has been convicted of traffic violations resulting in the accumulation of twelve points or more within any twelve consecutive months or eighteen points or more within any twenty-four consecutive months
except that the accumulation of points causing the subjection to suspension of the license of a chauffeur who, in the course of employment, has as a principal duty the operation of a motor vehicle shall be sixteen points in one year, twenty-four points in two years, or twentyeight points in four years
How long points last
We don’t have Colorado’s wording on this yet. The periods beside the figures above are the only ones we have.
Which date counts
What it means for a particular case is for the agency to say.
The time periods provided in subsection (1) of this section for the accumulation of points shall be based on the date of violation, but points shall not be assessed until after conviction for any such traffic violation.
Taking points off: courses and clean driving
If a person receives a penalty assessment notice for a violation under section 42-41701 (5) and such person pays the fine and surcharge for the violation on or before the date the payment is due, the points assessed for the violation are reduced as follows:
For a violation having an assessment of three or more points under subsection (5) of this section, the points are reduced by two points;
For a violation having an assessment of two points under subsection (5) of this section, the points are reduced by one point.
The point system itself
the department has the authority to suspend the license of any driver who, in accordance with the schedule of points set forth in this section, has been convicted of traffic violations resulting in the accumulation of twelve points or more within any twelve consecutive months or eighteen points or more within any twenty-four consecutive months
More from Colorado’s rules
(5) Point system schedule: Type of conviction Points
in the case of a minor driver eighteen years of age or older, who has accumulated nine points or more within any twelve consecutive months, or twelve points or more within any twenty-four consecutive months, or fourteen points or more for violations occurring after reaching the age of eighteen years
in the case of a minor driver under the age of eighteen years, who has accumulated more than five points within any twelve consecutive months or more than six points for violations occurring prior to reaching the age of eighteen years
any points accumulated by a minor under an instruction permit shall apply to the minor driver's license subsequently issued to or applied for by such minor.
Upon the accumulation by a licensee of half as many points as are required for suspension, the department may send such licensee a warning letter in accordance with section 42-2-119 (2) or order a preliminary hearing
No suspension or denial shall be made until a hearing has been held or the driver has failed to appear for a hearing scheduled in accordance with this section.
If the driver fails to appear at such hearing after proper notification as provided in subsections (7) and (8) of this section and a delay or continuance has not been requested and granted as provided in subsection (10) of this section, the department shall immediately suspend the license of the driver.
In the event that the driver's license is suspended, the department may issue a probationary license for a period not to exceed the period of suspension
42-4-239. Use of a mobile electronic device - definitions - penalty.
How nearby states compare
Side by side, not like for like. Read each state’s own rule before comparing two of them.
- Nebraska
12 points in 2 years
summarily revoke the operator's license
Nebraska Revised Statute 60-4,183, point system, revocation of license, read November 12, 2026
- Nevada
12 points in 12 months
automatic 6-month license suspension
Nevada DMV, Demerit Point System, read November 12, 2026
- New Mexico
12 points in 12 months
the department shall suspend the driver's license for a period of twelve months
New Mexico Administrative Code 18.19.5, Driver's License (point system, 18.19.5.50 to 18.19.5.56), read November 12, 2026
Check a ticket in Colorado
Total so far
Reference only, not legal or insurance advice. Confirm with the agency. Full statement.
What this adds up, and what it can’t say
- This is arithmetic on quoted values, and nothing else. It does not predict any outcome.
- The date a state counts from (the violation date or the conviction date) is as quoted. The calculator does not decide it: it uses the date entered for each line.
- Courts and agencies decide actual outcomes, under the full text of the law and the full driving record, which this page does not have.
- Insurance companies use their own separate systems. This calculator works out nothing about insurance.
- A printed figure is compared with a sum only where the same quoted passage prints a period. The comparison says below, equal to or above. Whether a passage means that figure or more, or more than that figure, is in the passage’s own words.
- How periods are counted here is this calculator’s own convention, not a rule from any source. Months and years are calendar months and years counted back from the date chosen. Where the earlier month is shorter, its last day is used. The day reached is the period’s first day, and a line dated on that first day is outside the period. A line dated on the date chosen is inside. For example, a period of one month ending March 31, 2026 has the first day February 28, 2026, so a line dated that day is not counted and a line dated the day after is. An agency may count differently.
- Nothing typed here leaves this page or is stored.
The checker has only the violations in the table above.
Sources for Colorado
- Colorado Revised Statutes 2024, Title 42 (uncertified printout), section 42-2-127, Authority to suspend license; points
- The licensing agency: Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles
Official pages we asked for and don’t quote
| Official page | What the request got |
|---|---|
| the Department of Revenue Hearings Division's point suspensions page | The request was refused (HTTP 403). |
| an address tried for the Division of Motor Vehicles' points page | The request was refused (HTTP 403). |
| an address tried for the Division of Motor Vehicles' suspensions page | The request was refused (HTTP 403). |