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Traffic-School Rules by Mechanism: Every State Compared
Every way U.S. states treat a traffic-school or defensive-driving course, side by side — from full citation dismissal to point reduction to no statewide program at all — with how many jurisdictions fall under each. Click a mechanism to see its states. This compares the legal rule, the only honest basis the public data supports.
Check your state's rules →| Mechanism | What it means | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Court discretion only | no statewide program; courts may allow case-by-case | 7 |
| Citation dismissal | course dismisses/removes the citation (court diversion) | 5 |
| Conviction masking | conviction kept off the public record on completion (CA) | 1 |
| No point system | state uses no DMV point system (HI/MN/LA/RI) | 3 |
| No state program | no dismissal/point-reduction program (insurance discount may exist) | 15 |
| Point reduction | removes/credits points; conviction stays | 18 |
| Pre-conviction election | election before conviction prevents points (FL/KY) | 2 |
Why mechanism, not “course type”. The public record carries each state's legal mechanism, frequency and governing statute — there is no nationwide “course type”, cost, or hours figure, so we compare on the real dimension rather than invent one. Even within a mechanism, eligibility differs by state and court. Compiled from .gov sources, verified June 2026. How we compile this. Not legal advice.
Check your state's rules →