You got a ticket, or a call about an OWI charge, and now you’re staring at a number on your BMV record wondering if it’s the one that costs you your license. In Indiana, it usually takes twenty points within twenty four months before the Bureau of Motor Vehicles moves toward suspension, though warning notices start well before that.
Knowing where the lines sit changes how you plan your next move. Blankenship Law, LLC has spent years working both sides of Indiana courtrooms, and that history shapes how the firm handles every license case.
How Many Points Trigger a Suspension?
Twenty points within 24 months is the threshold. Under 140 IAC 1, drivers reaching 14 to 18 points get a warning letter, and at 20 the BMV sets a hearing that can suspend privileges for a month up to a year. One Hamilton County speeding ticket rarely does this alone, but a string of violations adds up fast.
What Happens Once You Hit 20 Points?
Suspension length scales with your total, starting near 30 days and climbing toward a year further past the threshold. In Indiana, you’ll get notice by mail and a hearing date, and showing up with a license suspension attorney who knows the violations behind the numbers changes the outcome.
Why an OWI Works Differently?
Most sites stop at the point chart. An OWI conviction suspends your license on its own, separate from your point total, often before points alone would have forced it. A clean record and one OWI in Porter or Marion County still means no room under the twenty point rule.
Can Points Come Off Your Record?
Points expire two years after conviction, though the conviction stays on file for ten. A Driver Safety Program credits four points once every three years, and a license suspension attorney can sometimes negotiate a hardship license while your case moves through the hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do points expire in Indiana?
Yes, points drop off two years after conviction, though the conviction stays on your ten year record. Old points stop counting toward a new suspension.
Can I drive while my case is pending?
Usually yes, until the BMV issues a suspension notice or a hearing officer rules against you. A hardship license may be available afterward, depending on the violation.
Does a Driver Safety Program help?
It can, since a completed course credits four points off your record once every three years. It won’t touch an OWI suspension, since that runs on its own track.
Blankenship Law, LLC: Your Indiana OWI and Traffic Defense Law Firm
Facing points on your driving record and the potential loss of your license is stressful. As a former prosecutor in Hamilton and Marion County, attorney Eric Blankenship understands how the state evaluates BMV hearing notices and builds a defense strategy using that insider perspective.
Whether the case started with a speeding ticket or an OWI in Carmel or Valparaiso, the earlier you call, the more options stay open. Contact our firm today and find out what yours are.
