How often can you take the Missouri Driver Improvement Program?

How often can I use the program to keep points off?

Once every 36 months. The limit is in RSMo 302.302.5, and the Missouri Safety Center repeats it: "You cannot participate in D.I.P. more than once in a 36 month period of time."

I used it two years ago and got another ticket. What now?

The court can't approve it for points on this ticket. If you're convicted, the points are added.

How much that matters depends on your total. One 2-point or 3-point ticket on a clean record is below every threshold. The Department of Revenue sends a warning letter at 4 points in 12 months and suspends at 8 in 18 months. Check your points before your court date.

How do I know exactly when my 36 months end?

Ask the Department of Revenue, which keeps the record. The statute doesn't spell out which dates start and end the period. If your last course was about three years ago, call 573-526-2407 or email dlbmail@dor.mo.gov before you plead, and tell the court what you find.

Should I save the program for a worse ticket?

It's a fair question if your record is clean. Consider:

• A 3-point ticket on a clean record puts you at 3. Nothing happens at 3.
• Points shrink with time. Three points become 2 after a clean year.
• A second ticket within 18 months is when the numbers start to matter.

If you drive a lot, or you already have points, use it now. If your record is clean and this is a 2-point city ticket, keeping it in reserve can make sense. It's your call, and either choice is reasonable.

Does the limit apply to courses I take for other reasons?

The limit is on courses accepted in place of points. A course a court orders as part of probation isn't a point stay. Ask the clerk which kind of order you have.

Can I use it for two tickets from the same stop?

The statute is written around completing the program for "a violation," and it limits acceptance to one time in 36 months. If you were cited for two violations at once, ask the court how it will handle them before you plead to either.

What else keeps my points down?

Time. Points drop by a third after a year without a new conviction, by half of the rest after two, and to zero after three. See how long points stay on your license.