Revocation and Suspension of Driver’s License Under the Demerit
Point System
Revocation and Suspension of Driver’s License under the Demerit Point System
The Demerit Point System is used when automobile or moped drivers commit a traffic offense orcause a traffic accident, and mandatory demerit points are issued to the driver’s total.
Depending on the accumulated total, their license may be suspended or revoked.

Basic Points and Additional Penalty Points* Basic points
Basic points are mandatory demerit points issued for each minor traffic offense.

Traffic offenses

fall into two basic categories: Specific Traffic Offences and General Traffic Offences.
For Specific Traffic Offenses, one of the following mandatory demerit point totals will be issued tothe driver’s total depending on the type and severity of the traffic offense: 62 points; 55 points; 51points; 48 points; 45 points; or 35 points.
For Minor Traffic Offense, one of the following mandatory demerit point totals will be issued tothe driver’s total: 25 points; 23 points; 19 points; 16 points; 15 points; 14 points; 13 points; 12points; 6 points; 3 points; 2 points; or 1 point.
* Additional Penalty Points
Additional penalty points are issued to drivers who caused an injury or a fatal traffic accident,
depending on the severity of the accident, or to drivers who failed to take measures for hazardous
prevention after causing a traffic accident resulting in the destruction of structures, other property,etc.
Injury or fatal traffic accident or traffic accident resulting in the destruction of structures
degree of responsibilities

FatalRequiring 3 months for recovery, or resulting in
Types ofTraffic

Severe residual disability
InjuryRequiring more than 30 days or less than 3months for recovery

Accident

Driver’s carelessness

Other reasons

20 points

13 points

13 points

9 points

9 points

6 points

Minor

Requiring more than 15 days for recovery

6 points

4 points

InjuryRequiring less than 15 days for recovery

3 points

2 points

3 points

2 points

Property damage accident to a structure* If drivers commit a breach of duty to rescue the other party in a traffic accident (hit and run), 35
basic points will be added to the driver’s total.
If drivers commit a breach of duty to take measures for hazardous prevention in a property damage
accident (hit and run or leaving the scene of an accident), 5 additional penalty points will be added
to the driver’s total.

Period in which Demerit Points are Accumulated
The mandatory demerit points are issued on the day you committed the offense or caused the traffic
accident, and all points issued in the last three (3) years are added to your total. But your pastaccumulated points will be removed from your total if you:- are the licensed person who has been accident-free and offense-free for more than one (1) year
in the valid qualified period.
- are the person whose license has been revoked or suspended, and has been accident-free andoffense-free during your mandated revocation or suspension period.
- are the licensed person who committed a minor offense (less than 3 points), but had been
offense-free in the two (2) years previous to the minor offense, and also have been offense-freefor three (3) months after committing the minor offense. These time periods are valid only in thequalified period.
- are the person who attended the Traffic Offender’s Lecture because 6 points had been added toyour total when causing a traffic accident (6 points may be added for one offense), or by multiple
minor traffic offenses (1-3 points).
* The qualified period is the period that does not include the time your driver’s license has beensuspended or invalid.

Revocation and Suspension to be put into execution
Depending on how many times your driver’s license has been revoked or suspended in the last
three (3) years, the suspension or revocation and the period of disqualification of your driver’s
license will be decided.

The period of disqualification is listed in the table below. The period of

disqualification for those who have a past license revocation record will be longer than that for
those who do not.
Revocation
Specific Traffic Offense
Number of times punishment has
been imposed, such as licensesuspension, in the last 3 years
0

Period of Disqualification (For drivers who have a past license revocation record)
3 years

4 years

5 years

6 years

7 years

8 years

9 years(5yrs)(6yrs)(7yrs)(8yrs)(9yrs)(10yrs)(10yrs)35 - 39

40 - 4445 - 49

50 - 54

55 - 59

60 - 64

65 - 69 70 points

pointspointspointspointspointspointspoints35 - 39

40 - 4445 - 49

50 - 54

55 - 59

60 - 64 65 points

pointspointspointspointspointspoints35 - 39

40 - 4445 - 49

50 - 54

55 - 59 60 points

pointspointspointspointspoints35 - 39

40 - 4445 - 49

50 - 54 55 points

pointspointspointspoints

1-2--3 times or more---10 yearsor moreor moreor moreor moreSpecific Traffic Offenses are:
1. Intentionally killing or injuring someone or intentionally damaging building, etc., whiledriving an automobile, etc.
2. Dangerous driving causing death or injury
3. Driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence of drugs
4. Traffic obstruction (significant danger to traffic)
5. Breach of driver’s duty to rescue the other party in a traffic accident* If you commit any of these offenses and the offense results in a traffic accident and, inaddition, fail in the driver's duty to rescue the other party in a traffic accident (hit and run), 35
basic points will be added.
General Traffic Offense
Number of times punishment has

Period of Disqualification (For drivers who have a past license revocation record)

been imposed, such as license

1 years

2 years

3 years

4 years

suspension, in the last 3 years(3yrs)(4yrs)(5yrs)(5yrs)

015 - 24 points 25 - 34 points 35 - 39 points 40 - 44 points

110 - 19 points 20 - 29 points 30 - 34 points 35 - 39 points

25 - 14 points

15 - 24 points 25 - 29 points 30 - 34 points

3 times or more

4 - 9 points

10 - 19 points 20 - 24 points 25 - 29 points

5 years
45 points
or more40 points
or more35 points
or more30 points
or moreNote:* Period of Disqualification is the period that you are not qualified to take any examination for a driver’slicense (except for a learner’s license).
* ‘Drivers who have a past license revocation record’ are those whose driver’s license has been revoked,
rejected or revoked afterward because of traffic offenses, having induced others to commit serious
traffic offenses or having caused injury or death off the road, or who have been prohibited to drive anautomobile, etc.

Suspension
Number of times punishment has been imposed, such as license suspension, in the last
three (3) years
01

2

3

4 times or more

30 days

6 - 8 points----

60 days

9 - 11 points

4 - 5 points---

suspended

90 days

12 - 14 points

6 - 7 points

2 points--period

120 days-

8 - 9 points

3 points

2 points-

150 days--

4 points

3 points

2 points

180 days----

3 points

Your driver's license will be revoked in the following case:Example: in the case where you have no previous traffic offenses
Drunk driving
35 points

Cause of traffic accident
Breach of safety driving
duty=

3 year revocation+

Breach of driver’s duty
to rescue the otherparty in traffic accident

2 points

35 points

Homicide driving

Breach of driver’s duty
to rescue the otherparty in traffic accident

62 points++

Injury for 3 months or more or
residual disability entirely causedby the driver’s careless driving=

6 yearrevocation
50 points

13 points

10 year revocation=

97 points

35 points

Your driver's license will be suspended in the following cases:
Example1: in the case where you have no previous traffic offense offenses
Driving without insurance
6 points=

30day suspension

Example2: in the case where you have one (1) previous traffic offense
Failure to obey traffic light
2 points+

Designated lane violation
1 point+

Derelict parking offense
2 points=

60day suspension
5 points

A hearing will be held in the following case:If you are subject to a license suspension for more than 90 days or a revocation due to accumulated
demerit points, a hearing arranged by the Public Safety Committee or the Chief of Prefectural Police
will be held. You, or your proxy, can state your opinion of the penalty or submit evidence in yourfavor.

Shortening of the period of suspension.
If you attend the lecture course provided by the Public Safety Committee, your period ofsuspension will be shortened as the table below indicates. This depends on your theory test
mark and attitude at the lecture.
Period of suspension

Period will be shortened to:

30 days

Less than 29 days

60 - 120 days

Less than half of suspended days

150 days

Less than 70 days

180 days

Less than 80 days

Location
Driver’s License Center (Futamatagawa) 1F
1-1-1 Nakao, Asahi-ku, Yokohama City
Driver’s License Division, Driver’s License Headquarters, Traffic Department,
Kanagawa Prefectural Police Headquarters
Tel. 045-365-3111 (Pilot Number)