New Regulations on Not Downgrading Driving License After Accumulating 12 Points
5 Answers
For a Class C driving license, accumulating more than 12 points will not result in downgrading, but will instead lead to detention, training, revocation, and fines in accordance with traffic laws. According to the relevant provisions of the "Road Traffic Safety Law," "Regulations for the Implementation of the Road Traffic Safety Law," and the "Regulations on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses," if a motor vehicle driver accumulates 12 points within a scoring cycle, the traffic management department of the public security organ will detain their motor vehicle driving license, provide them with 7 days of education on road traffic safety laws and regulations, and require them to retake the exam. The point clearance time for the driving license is the issuance date on the license, and the system automatically clears the points on the issuance date each year. Starting from the "initial license date" on the driving license, one year constitutes a scoring cycle, and this cycle continues to repeat accordingly.
I've worked at the traffic management bureau for over a decade, specializing in driving regulations. Many people misunderstand that accumulating 12 penalty points on your driver's license doesn't automatically result in a downgrade. The law clearly states: drivers must complete a seven-day traffic safety education course and pass an exam to reset their points. Only in cases of severe violations like drunk driving, drug-impaired driving, or fatal traffic accidents might your license be downgraded or revoked. New regulations? Honestly, nothing major has changed in the past two or three years—it still emphasizes education first, allowing people to learn from their mistakes. My advice? Drive carefully to avoid accumulating penalty points. Though the learning process takes time, it enhances safety awareness and responsibility. Hope this explanation helps—feel free to ask if anything's unclear.
I remember last year my buddy got 12 points deducted for speeding on a long drive, and he was terrified thinking his license would be downgraded to C1. Later, I accompanied him to the DMV to handle the procedures, and the staff just said he had to attend a week of classes and then take a test. If he passed, the points would be cleared, and his license would remain at the same level. New regulation? I checked the official website, and there were no new changes—it's still the same old rules. The key is not to drive recklessly. Once you accumulate full points, you’ll have to waste time relearning, and the process is quite tedious. Now I drive more cautiously, never exceeding speed limits or overtaking unnecessarily, which is both worry-free and safe. I really hope more people understand this to avoid unnecessary anxiety.
Having worked as a traffic police officer for over a decade, we handle such cases every day. Deducting 12 points without downgrading the license is an ironclad rule, unless it's a severe case like drunk driving or causing a fatal accident, in which case only mandatory study and testing are required. No new regulations have been issued, so don't spread rumors. Simply put: penalty points for violations are educational tools, not meant for license downgrades. During routine patrols, we advise drivers to follow traffic rules—this is the principle. Understand it, and you'll have fewer troubles.
I just got my driver's license less than half a year ago and am particularly curious about the new regulations. I heard that if you accumulate 12 penalty points, you have to undergo training and retake the test, but your license won’t be downgraded? My instructor often emphasizes this detail—unless you engage in dangerous behaviors like drunk driving, your Class A or B license will remain intact. We young people love speeding, so we must remind ourselves not to push our luck with things like speeding and getting caught. Although accumulating 12 points doesn’t downgrade your license, the hassle of suspension, studying, and retaking the test is a huge inconvenience and wastes time that could be spent having fun. I think the rule is quite reasonable—it both penalizes and makes you reflect on putting safety first.
