This web page is intended to explain in general terms the objectives of this System, its method of functioning and its effect on motorists. The law itself is set out in the Road Traffic (Driving-offence Points) Ordinance, Chapter 375.
What is the Driving-offence Points System?
With the introduction of this System, certain traffic offences will carry Driving-offence Points, in addition to other penalties. Committing any of these offences will result in the recording of these points. When a specified number of points have been recorded, you will be liable to be disqualified from driving for a certain period.
When did the System start?
The Driving-offence Points System was put into operation on August 25, 1984. Any scheduled offence committed as from that date attracts driving-offence points if:
| (a) | the driver is convicted by any Court; or | |
| (b) | the driver becomes liable to the fixed penalty. | |
What are the objectives of this System?
This is a measure designed to promote safety on the road. The main purposes are to deter habitual traffic offenders and to improve standards of driving in order to reduce the accident toll.
Which traffic offences will attract Driving-offence Points?
Not all traffic offences are covered by this System. Only those which have direct bearing on road safety are included. There are, altogether, over 50 items of offences and they are listed at the end of this page, together with the number of points they attract.
How will an incurred date be calculated?
An appropriate number of points will only be incurred on the date you are convicted of a scheduled offence (i.e. an offence mentioned in the Schedule to Road Traffic (Driving-offence Points) Ordinance, Chapter 375), or become liable to a fixed penalty in respect of a scheduled offence. The date that an appropriate number of points is incurred is referred to as "incurred date".
What will happen if you have incurred up to 8 points ?
If you have incurred 8 points or more, but less than 15 points, the Transport Department will issue an Advice of Driving-offence Points to you. This advice will detail your Driving-offence Points in respect of the offences which are committed by you within 2 years and also remind you of the consequences when more points are accumulated.
The advice aims to alert you to improve your driving behaviour.
What will happen if you have incurred 10 points?
If you have incurred 10 or more points in respect of offences committed within a period of 2 years, the Transport Department will issue an Obligatory Attendance of Driving Improvement Course Notice to you. You must attend and complete a driving improvement course at your own cost within 3 months from the date of this notice. More details can be found on the page about Mandatory Driving Improvement Course Scheme.
What will happen if you have incurred 15 points?
If you have incurred 15 or more points in respect of offences committed within a period of 2 years, you can be disqualified by a Court from holding or obtaining a driving licence. Whilst the period of disqualification for the first time will be 3 months, this will be increased to 6 months for any subsequent convictions.
How will a summons be served?
When you have incurred 15 or more points in respect of offences committed within a period of 2 years, a summons will be served by ordinary post at your address registered in the Transport Department. If you do not appear in court at the scheduled time, the summons will be served again on you by registered post.
A summons is deemed to have been served if it is served on you by registered post at your address registered in the Transport Department, even if it is returned undelivered to you.
What will happen if you fail to appear at the hearing?
If a summons is served or deemed to have been served on you and you do not appear at the time and place specified in the summons, the court may issue an arrest warrant against you. Moreover, the Transport Department shall refuse to issue, re-issue or renew the driving licence for you.
Would you be disqualified once, irrespective of whether you have incurred 15 points or more, within a period of 2 years?
Driving-offence Points are incurred for each offence committed and counted individually, irrespective of whether the offences have arisen from the same incident. A summons will be issued to you once you have incurred 15 or more points within a period of 2 years. Any points not included in the summons will be carried forward for calculation (See Example C). Another summons will be issued to you again when you have incurred 15 or more points again within a period of 2 years.
Examples of How the Points are Calculated
Example A
| Number of Points | 5 | 3 | 10 | |
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| Date of offence | 25.8.06 | 1.2.07 | 1.9.08 | (no disqualification) |
On August 25, 2008, the 5 points incurred on August 25, 2006 will not be counted as 2 years will have elapsed since the offences were incurred. On September 1, 2008, the total number of points incurred in respect of offences committed within a period of 2 years will be 13.
Example B
| Number of Points | 5 | 3 | 10 | |
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| Date of offence | 25.8.06 | 1.2.07 | 15.7.08 | |
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| 8 points | 18 points | (liable to disqualification) | ||
On July 15, 2008, 18 points have been incurred within a period of 2 years. After the disqualification order is made, all the 18 points which result in disqualification on this occasion will be cancelled.
Example C
| Number of Points | 8 | 5 | 5 | |
| 5 | 3 | |||
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| Date of offence |
13.8.06 |
20.8.07 |
19.10.07 |
2.4.09 |
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| 18 points (summons issued for disqualification) | ||||
| + 5 points (carried forward) | ||||
On October 19, 2007, two separate offences were committed, and a total of 10 points were incurred. When the 5 points from the first offence were added to the 13 points incurred before, a total of 18 points had been incurred and a summons was issued. These 18 points will be cancelled after disqualification. The 5 points due to the second offence committed on the same day were carried forward. On April 2, 2009, another offence attracting 3 points was committed and the total number of points accumulated was 8. An Advice of Driving-offence Points will be sent to the driver.
Deduction of points on completion of driving improvement course
A course certificate will be issued to you if you complete the driving improvement course with satisfactory performance. 3 points will be deducted from the total number of points that have been incurred (i.e. after being convicted of a scheduled offence, or becoming liable to a fixed penalty in respect of a scheduled offence) on the date you have completed the driving improvement course, except in the case that you –
(i) have not incurred any points; or
(ii) have incurred 15 or more points; or
(iii) have been deducted points from the total of number of points incurred within the past 2 years. Please also refer to the aforementioned "How will an incurred date be calculated?" for more details on the calculation of incurred dates.
Further Enquiries
Your record of the Driving-offence Points can be obtained from the Police Traffic Conviction Records Office. Please find the application details on their website: https://www.police.gov.hk/ppp_en/05_traffic_matters/tcr.html
Scheduled Offences Under the Driving-offence Points System
| Item | Section, Regulation or By-law | Description of general nature of offence | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Traffic Ordinance (Cap 374) | |||
| 1 | Section 36(1) | Causing death by dangerous driving | 10 |
| 1A | Section 36A(1) | Causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving | 10 |
| 2 | Section 37(1) | Dangerous driving | 10 |
| 3 | Section 38(1) | Careless driving | 5 |
| 4 | Section 39 | Driving, attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle under the influence of drink | 10 |
| 4A | Section 39A | Driving, attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle with alcohol concentration above prescribed limit | 10 |
| 4B | Section 39B(6) | Failing to provide a specimen of breath for screening breath test without reasonable excuse | 10 |
| 4C | Section 39C(15) | Failing to provide a specimen of breath for breath analysis or a specimen of blood or urine for laboratory test, or failing to give consent to laboratory test of a specimen of blood, without reasonable excuse |
10
|
| 4D | Section 39J(1) | Driving, attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle under the influence of a specified illicit drug |
10
|
| 4E | Section 39K(1) | Driving, attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle while any concentration of a specified illicit drug is present in the blood or urine |
10
|
| 4F | Section 39L(1) | Driving, attempting to drive or being in charge of a motor vehicle under the influence of a drug other than a specified illicit drug |
10
|
| 4G | Section 39O(1) | Failing to undergo an Impairment Test or provide a specimen or oral fluid without reasonable excuse |
10
|
| 4H | Section 39S(1) | Failing to provide a specimen of blood or urine for laboratory test, or failing to give consent to the analysis of a specimen of blood, without reasonable excuse |
10
|
| 5 | Section 41 | Driving in excess of speed limit by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 5A or 5B applies | 3 |
| 5A | Section 41 | Driving in excess of speed limit by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 5B applies | 5 |
| 5B | Section 41 | Driving in excess of speed limit by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 6 | Section 55(1) | Driving in a motor race or speed trial on a road | 10 |
| 7 | Section 56(1) | Failing to stop after an accident | 5 |
| 8 | Section 56(2) | Failing to give particulars after an accident | 3 |
| 9 | Section 56(3) | Failing to report an accident | 3 |
| 10 | Section 61 | Failing to obey directions of police officer or traffic warden | 3 |
| Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap374 sub. leg. G) | |||
| 11 | Regulation 11(1) | Crossing double white lines | 3 |
| 12 | Regulation 18 | Failing to comply with traffic signals | 5 |
| 13 | Regulation 31 | Failing to give precedence to pedestrians on zebra crossing | 3 |
| 14 | Regulation 38(2) | Failing to stop for school crossing patrol | 3 |
| Road Tunnels (Government) Regulations (Cap 368 sub. leg. A) |
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| 15 | Regulation 4(2) | Driving in excess of temporary maximum speed limit by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 16 or 17 applies | 3 |
| 16 | Regulation 4(2) | Driving in excess of temporary maximum speed limit by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 17 applies | 5 |
| 17 | Regulation 4(2) | Driving in excess of temporary maximum speed limit by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 18 | Regulation 9(1)(g) | Crossing continuous double lines | 3 |
| 19 | Regulation 18(4) | Crossing a continuous white line with a broken white line of the type shown in Figure No. 502 in Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap 374 sub. leg. G) | 3 |
| 20 | Regulation 18(4) | Driving in excess of the speed limit indicated by a traffic sign of the type shown in Figure No. 136 in Schedule 1 to the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap 374 sub. leg. G) by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 21 or 22 applies | 3 |
| 21 | Regulation 18(4) | Driving in excess of the speed limit referred to in item 20 by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 22 applies | 5 |
| 22 | Regulation 18(4) | Driving in excess of the speed limit referred to in item 20 by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 23-27 | (Repealed L.N. 198 of 1999) | ||
| 28 | (Repealed 7 of 2016 s. 25) | ||
| 28A-28D | (Repealed 7 of 2016 s. 25) | ||
| 29-32 | (Repealed 7 of 2016 s. 25) | ||
| 33 | (Repealed 9 of 2018 s. 16) | ||
| 33A-33D | (Repealed 9 of 2018 s. 16) | ||
| 34-36 | (Repealed 9 of 2018 s. 16) | ||
| Western Harbour Crossing By-laws (Cap 436 sub. leg. D) | |||
| 37 | (Renumbered as item 33D - see L.N. 100 of 2013) | ||
| 37A | Section 7(1) | Driving in excess of the speed limit indicated by a speed limit sign by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 37B or 37C applies | 3 |
| 37B | Section 7(1) | Driving in excess of the speed limit indicated by a speed limit sign by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 37C applies | 5 |
| 37C | Section 7(1) | Driving in excess of the speed limit indicated by a speed limit sign by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 37D | Section 7(2)(b)(i) | Driving a bus, medium goods vehicle or heavy goods vehicle in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 37E or 37F applies | 3 |
| 37E | Section 7(2)(b)(i) | Driving a bus, medium goods vehicle or heavy goods vehicle in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 37F applies | 5 |
| 37F | Section 7(2)(b)(i) | Driving a bus, medium goods vehicle or heavy goods vehicle in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 37G | Section 7(2)(b)(ii) | Driving a motor cycle, motor tricycle, private car or light goods vehicle and under a probationary driving licence in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 37H or 37I applies | 3 |
| 37H | Section 7(2)(b)(ii) | Driving a motor cycle, motor tricycle, private car or light goods vehicle and under a probationary driving licence in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 37I applies | 5 |
| 37I | Section 7(2)(b)(ii) | Driving a motor cycle, motor tricycle, private car or light goods vehicle and under a probationary driving licence in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 37J | Section 8 | Crossing continuous double white lines | 3 |
| 37K | Section 10(2) | Crossing a continuous white line with a broken white line of the type shown in Figure No. 502 in Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap 374 sub. leg. G) | 3 |
| Western Harbour Crossing Bylaw (Cap 436 sub. leg. D) as it was in force immediately before 20 July 2012 | |||
| 38 | Section 7 | Driving in excess of speed limit by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 39 or 40 applies | 3 |
| 39 | Section 7 | Driving in excess of speed limit by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 40 applies | 5 |
| 40 | Section 7 | Driving in excess of speed limit by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 41 | (Renumbered as item 37J - see L.N. 100 of 2013) | ||
| 42 | Section 10(b) | Crossing a continuous white line with a broken white line of the type shown in Figure No. 502 in Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap 374 sub. leg. G) | 3 |
| Tsing Ma Control Area (General) Regulation (Cap 498 sub.leg.B) |
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| 43 | Section 9 | Driving in excess of the speed limit indicated by a traffic sign of the type shown in Figure No. 22 in Schedule 1 to the Tsing Ma Control Area (General) Regulation (Cap 498 sub. leg. B) by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 44 or 45 applies | 3 |
| 44 | Section 9 | Driving in excess of the speed limit referred to in item 43 by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 45 applies | 5 |
| 45 | Section 9 | Driving in excess of the speed limit referred to in item 43 by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 46 | Section 9 | Crossing continuous double white lines or a continuous white line with a broken white line of the type shown in Figure No. 501, 502 or 503 in Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap 374 sub. leg. G) | 3 |
| 47 | Section 10(2) | Driving in excess of temporary speed limit by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 48 or 49 applies | 3 |
| 48 | Section 10(2) | Driving in excess of temporary speed limit by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 49 applies | 5 |
| 49 | Section 10(2) | Driving in excess of temporary speed limit by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach Road By-law (Cap 474 sub. leg.C) |
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| 49A | Section 7(1) | Driving in excess of the speed limit indicated by a speed limit sign by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 49B or 49C applies | 3 |
| 49B | Section 7(1) | Driving in excess of the speed limit indicated by a speed limit sign by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 49C applies | 5 |
| 49C | Section 7(1) | Driving in excess of the speed limit indicated by a speed limit sign by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 49D | Section 7(2)(b)(i) | Driving a bus, medium goods vehicle or heavy goods vehicle in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 49E or 49F applies | 3 |
| 49E | Section 7(2)(b)(i) | Driving a bus, medium goods vehicle or heavy goods vehicle in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 49F applies | 5 |
| 49F | Section 7(2)(b)(i) | Driving a bus, medium goods vehicle or heavy goods vehicle in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 49G | Section 7(2)(b)(ii) | Driving a motor cycle, motor tricycle, private car or light goods vehicle and under a probationary driving licence in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 49H or 49I applies | 3 |
| 49H | Section 7(2)(b)(ii) | Driving a motor cycle, motor tricycle, private car or light goods vehicle and under a probationary driving licence in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 49I applies | 5 |
| 49I | Section 7(2)(b)(ii) | Driving a motor cycle, motor tricycle, private car or light goods vehicle and under a probationary driving licence in excess of the 70 kilometres per hour speed limit by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 49J | Section 8 | Crossing continuous double white lines | 3 |
| 49K | Section 10(2) | Crossing a continuous white line with a broken white line of the type shown in Figure No. 502 in Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap. 374 sub. leg. G) | 3 |
| Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach Road By-law (Cap 474 sub. leg. C) as it was in force immediately before 20 July 2012 | |||
| 50 | Section 7 | Driving in excess of speed limit indicated by a speed limit sign of the type shown in Figure No. 6, 7, 8 or 9 in the Schedule to the Tai Lam Tunnel and Yuen Long Approach Road Bylaw (Cap 474 sub. leg. C) by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 51 or 52 applies | 3 |
| 51 | Section 7 | Driving in excess of speed limit referred to in item 50 by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 52 applies | 5 |
| 52 | Section 7 | Driving in excess of speed limit referred to in item 50 by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 53 | (Renumbered as item 49J - see L.N. 100 of 2013) | ||
| 54 | Section 10(b) | Crossing a continuous white line with a broken white line of the type shown in Figure No. 502 in Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap 374 sub. leg. G) | 3 |
| Discovery Bay Tunnel Link Bylaw (Cap 520 sub. leg.B) |
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| 55 | Section 7 | Driving in excess of speed limit indicated by a speed limit sign of the type shown in Figure No. 6 or 7 in the Schedule to the Discovery Bay Tunnel Link Bylaw (Cap 520 sub. leg. B) by more than 15 kilometres an hour, other than where item 56 or 57 applies | 3 |
| 56 | Section 7 | Driving in excess of speed limit referred to in item 55 by more than 30 kilometres an hour, other than where item 57 applies | 5 |
| 57 | Section 7 | Driving in excess of speed limit referred to in item 55 by more than 45 kilometres an hour | 10 |
| 58 | Section 8 | Crossing continuous double white lines | 3 |
| 59 | Section 10(b) | Crossing a continuous white line with a broken white line of the type shown in Figure No. 502 in Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic (Traffic Control) Regulations (Cap 374 sub. leg. G) |
3 |