You must obtain a learners permit before you operate a motor vehicle in Pennsylvania. You will need to take and pass the Vision, Knowledge and Road Tests to get your drivers license.
The penalties for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs are severe. In Pennsylvania, if you are of legal drinking age (21 or older), you are considered to be driving "while under the influence" if your blood alcohol level is .08 or higher. But, you also may be convicted of DUI at lower BAC levels, if you are stopped by police for driving erratically (too slow, too fast, straddling your lane, making wide turns, stopping for no reason, failing to obey traffic signs and signals, etc.).
The Implied Consent law is very important to you as a driver. The law covering chemical testing says you have agreed to take such a test just by being licensed to drive in Pennsylvania. If the police arrest you for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and you refuse to take one (1) or more chemical tests of breath, blood or urine, your driving privilege will be automatically suspended for one (1) year. This suspension is in addition to the suspension imposed for a conviction or Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) for driving while under the influence.
The purpose of the point system is to help to improve driving habits and to ensure safe driving. Points are added to a driving record, when a driver is found guilty of certain driving violations. PennDOT begins to take corrective action when, a driving record reaches six (6) or more points.
When a driving record reaches six (6) or more points for the first time, the driver will receive a written notice to take a written special point examination. When the driving record is reduced below six (6) points and reaches six (6) or more points for a second time, the driver will have to attend a Departmental hearing. Further accumulations of six (6) or more points will result in additional Departmental hearings and/or suspensions to your driving privilege.
| Points | Type of Violation |
|---|
| 2 | 1512 Violation of restriction on driver's license - wearing glasses, etc. |
| 3 | 1571 Violation concerning license |
| 2 | 3102 Failure to obey authorized persons directing traffic |
| 3 | 3112(a)(3)(i) or (ii) . Failure to stop for a red light |
| 3 | 3114(a)(1) Failure to stop for a flashing red light |
| 3 | 3302 Failure to yield half of roadway to oncoming vehicle |
| 3 | 3303 Improper passing, overtaken driver to maintain speed; passing driver to pull in at safe distance |
| 3 | 3304 Improper passing on the right |
| 3 | 3305 Improper passing on the left, clear distance ahead |
| 4 | 3306(a)(1) Improper passing on a hill |
| 3 | 3306(a)(2) Improper passing at a railroad crossing or intersection. |
| 3 | 3306(a)(3) Improper passing at a bridge or tunnel |
| 3 | 3307 Improper passing in a no-passing zone |
| 3 | 3310 Following too closely |
| 3 | 3321 Failure to yield to driver on the right at intersection |
| 3 | 3322 Failure to yield to oncoming driver when making left turn |
| 3 | 3323(b) Failure to stop for stop sign |
| 3 | 3323(c) Failure to yield at yield sign |
| 3 | 3324 Failure to yield when entering or crossing roadway between intersections |
| 3 | 3332 Improper turning around - illegal U-turns |
| 2 | 3341(a) Failure to obey signal indicating approach of train |
| 4 | 3341(b) Failure to comply with crossing gate or barrier 30-day suspension and |
| 4 | 3342(b) or (e) Failure to stop at railroad crossings |
| 3 | 3344 Failure to stop when entering from alley, driveway or building |
| 5 | 3345(a) Failure to stop for school bus with flashing red lights 60-day suspension and |
| 2 | 3361 Driving too fast for conditions (if violation occurs in an active work zone and in conjunction with an accident, 15-day suspension) and |
| 2 | 3362 Exceeding maximum speed (Miles over Speed Limit): 6 to 10 |
| 3 | 3362 Exceeding maximum speed (Miles over Speed Limit): 11 to 15 (if violation occurs in an active work zone, 15-day suspension) and |
| 4 | 3362 Exceeding maximum speed (Miles over Speed Limit): 16 to 25 (if violation occurs in an active work zone, 15-day suspension) and |
| 5 | 3362 Exceeding maximum speed (Miles over Speed Limit): 26 to 30 (if violation occurs in an active work zone, 15-day suspension) and |
| 5 | 3362 Exceeding maximum speed (Miles over Speed Limit): 31 and over Departmental Hearing and Sanctions provided under Section 1538(d) and |
| 3 | 3365(b) Exceeding special speed limit in school zone |
| 3 | 3365(c) Exceeding special speed limit for trucks on downgrades |
| 2 | 3542(a) Failure to yield to pedestrian in crosswalk |
| 3 | 3547(a) Failure to yield to pedestrian on sidewalk when entering from a driveway or alley |
| 3 | 3549(a) Failure to yield to blind pedestrians |
| 3 | 3702 Improper backing |
| 3 | 3714(a) Careless driving |
| 4 | 3745 Leaving scene of accident involving property damage only |