Can points still be deducted after the driver's license has already accumulated 12 points?

[LaAnthony]

You cannot drive after accumulating 12 points. According to the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driver's Licenses," if a motor vehicle driver accumulates 12 points within a scoring cycle, the driver's license will be confiscated by the traffic management department of the public security authority. Driving while the license is confiscated is considered unlicensed driving, and if caught, you will be fined. How to handle a driver's license with 12 points: The motor vehicle driver must report to the traffic management department of the public security authority in the jurisdiction where the driver's license was issued or where the violation occurred within 15 days to attend a seven-day study session on road traffic safety laws, regulations, and related knowledge. After passing the exam, the points will be cleared, and the driver's license will be returned. How to handle an expired driver's license: If the driver's license has not been reviewed for over one year but less than two years, you must retake the subject one exam and pass it to renew the license. If the license has not been reviewed for over two years, you must return to driving school, retake all three subject exams, and obtain a new driver's license.

[Martinez]

Last year, I already had 12 points deducted and thought that was the limit, but then the following week I got another ticket for illegal parking, costing me 3 more points. The traffic police informed me that exceeding 12 points in a scoring cycle doesn’t stop further deductions—it just escalates the penalties. Once you hit 12 points, your license gets suspended, and you must attend a 7-day traffic rules course and pass the written test (Subject 1). If you violate again during this period—like my additional 3 points adding up to 15—only the original 12 points are cleared after the test; the remaining 3 stay. If you rack up another 12 points, you’ll have to retake both Subject 1 and the road test. Now, I take the subway to commute, terrified of another violation—this lesson was brutal.

[LaWyatt]

Having driven for over a decade, I've seen many experienced drivers get tripped up by the 12-point system. Reaching 12 penalty points on your license doesn't mean you're in a safe zone - subsequent violations will still be recorded and points will continue accumulating. The process is: your license gets suspended first, and you must enroll in a traffic course within 15 days. During this learning period, if you run red lights or speed again, new penalty points will stack. For example, with 15 total points, passing the course and test will clear 12 points, leaving 3 points remaining. The worst scenario is exceeding 24 total points - that requires retaking both the written exam (Subject One) and road test (Subject Three). My advice: stop driving immediately when you hit 12 points, and use ride-hailing apps as the safest transition.

[OTeagan]

As someone who frequently deals with traffic violations, I've noticed that many people misunderstand that once they accumulate 12 penalty points, they can rest easy. In reality, violations continue to be recorded, only the handling process changes. After reaching 12 points: In the first week, you must register for a study session at the traffic police station. If you're caught speeding by a camera during this study period, the camera won't care whether you've already reached 12 points. In the second week, passing the exam clears the 12 points, but any new penalty points remain separately. If you accumulate another 12 points within three months after clearing them, in addition to the theory test, you'll also have to take a practical driving test. Many people get tripped up by this stacking rule, so after being deducted 12 points, it's best to park your car at home and take public transport for peace of mind.

[OJulia]

Last month, my colleague had 14 points deducted from his driver's license. He shared his personal experience with me: 12 points are just the threshold. If you exceed it and continue to violate traffic rules, points will still be deducted, and the handling process is extremely troublesome. The traffic police will confiscate your license and require you to complete 30 class hours at a designated location. What's even more frustrating is that if you're caught driving during the learning period, the points will directly increase. My colleague was photographed crossing the line on his way to class. After passing the exam, 12 points are cleared, and the remaining points are carried over to the next cycle. He now commutes by bicycle and says he won't touch the steering wheel again until his points are reset in six months.

[Teresa]

From a traffic management perspective, the demerit point system operates like a water tank: 12 points is the red line but not the lid. After accumulating 12 points, new violation points continue filling this tank normally. When handled, the initial 12 points are drained—through attending remedial courses and tests—but the remaining water stays. For example, with 15 total points, 3 points remain after the test. The most severe scenario is tank overflow: exceeding 24 points requires retaking all license exams, while surpassing 36 points may trigger license downgrade. Drivers should actually become vigilant at 9 points—don't gamble by continuing to drive at 12 points. Using car-sharing services is far safer than taking such risks.