Most states penalize drivers who violate traffic and criminal laws while operating a motor vehicle by restricting, suspending, or revoking the driver’s license. For example, a state may suspend a driver’s license upon refusal to submit to a blood or breath test when suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or when a driver is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

And most states have a traffic ticket points system that assigns points to traffic offenses—with more serious offenses receiving more points. The points a driver accumulates become a part of the driver’s record with the state and a specified number of points will lead to greater driver’s license penalties—including suspension of the driver’s license—as well as higher insurance premiums charged by insurance companies.

The use and structure of traffic ticket point systems vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s statutes.

In Utah, the Driver License Division (DLD) operates under the Utah Department of Public Safety and is responsible for the enforcement of traffic laws, including the issuance of driver's license penalties. Utah does have a traffic ticket points system, where points are assigned for various traffic violations. For example, speeding might incur a different number of points depending on how far over the speed limit the driver was going. If a driver accumulates too many points within a certain period, their license may be suspended. For drivers 21 years and older, the threshold is 200 points within three years. For drivers under 21, the threshold is 70 points within three years. Additionally, Utah law mandates that a driver's license be suspended upon refusal to submit to a chemical test (blood, breath, or urine) when suspected of driving under the influence (DUI) or if the driver is convicted of a DUI. The length of the suspension can vary based on the number of prior offenses and other factors. These regulations are designed to promote road safety and deter drivers from committing traffic violations and DUI offenses.