Reasons for Ineligibility

There are a number of reasons why the DMV may have said you are not eligible for traffic school. Your particular citation may not qualify for traffic school; you may already have attended traffic school for another citation recently; or you have exceeded the time limit allowed to enroll in traffic school.

The DMV allows drivers to attend traffic school in order to expunge some types of citations from a driving record in certain circumstances. First of all, the citation itself must qualify for traffic school. Usually, moving violations such as minor speeding offenses qualify for traffic school. Major offenses, like DUI, DWI, and hit and run do not qualify for traffic school.

Secondly, states restrict the number of times you can attend traffic school for citations. In California, for example, you can only attend traffic school once in an 18-month period. So if you get a second citation in that 18-month period, you will not be able to attend traffic school for a second time. If it’s been over 18 months since you last attended traffic school, you would be permitted to attend traffic school again to expunge a citation from your driving record. Thirdly, there are time limitations on enrolling for traffic school.

Notification of Eligibility

When you receive your citation, the DMV or court will notify you if you are eligible for traffic school and instruct you on how to enroll. You will be given a deadline for enrolling. If you do not enroll by the deadline, you will not be eligible to enroll in traffic school, and the DMV will deny your request. By the same token, you cannot enroll in traffic school for a past citation that is already on your driving record. Traffic school is intended for current citations only before they appear on your driving record.

Look Up Your Record

If you’d like to find out what’s already on your driving record, take a moment now and search online. Obtaining your driving record online is the most convenient way to get the information you’re looking for.