CDL Speeding Ticket Virginia: Federal Rules That Apply

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

If you searched cdl speeding ticket virginia, the key rule is this: for a CDL holder, speeding 15 mph or more over the limit and reckless driving are “serious traffic violations.” Two of them within 3 years bring a 60-day disqualification, and three bring 120 days. Virginia demerit points still apply on top of the federal rules.

Key Facts

Serious violations: speeding 15 mph or more over the limit, and reckless driving, are serious traffic violations. See what counts.
Disqualification: two serious violations within 3 years mean 60 days without a CDL, and three mean 120 days. See disqualification periods.
Personal car: a ticket in your own car counts only if it leads to a suspension, revocation or cancellation. See personal vehicle tickets.
No masking: states may not hide or defer a CDL holder’s conviction, and a court cannot use a clinic to do so. See the masking ban.
Virginia points too: a conviction still adds 3, 4 or 6 Virginia demerit points. See points and DMV actions.
Commercial clinic: a CDL holder required to attend a clinic needs the commercial clinic, and online does not count. See the commercial clinic.

What Counts as a Serious Violation

Virginia law and federal law both use the term “serious traffic violation.” Code of Virginia § 46.2-341.20 lists “Driving at a speed 15 or more miles per hour in excess of the posted speed limits” and “Reckless driving.”

The federal rule is 49 CFR 383.51. Its Table 2 lists these serious traffic violations:

Speeding 15 mph or more above the regulated or posted limit
Driving recklessly
Improper or erratic lane changes
Following the vehicle ahead too closely
Traffic control violations tied to a fatal crash
Driving without the proper CLP or CDL
Texting or using a handheld phone while driving

A conviction for one of these violations can count toward the 3-year total that sets a disqualification.

Where Speeding Crosses the Line

For a CDL holder, the speed on the ticket matters twice. It sets the Virginia demerit points, and it decides if the ticket is a serious violation:

Speed or charge	Serious violation for a CDL?	Virginia demerit points
1 to 9 mph over	Not as speeding	3
10 to 14 mph over	Not as speeding	4
15 to 19 mph over	Yes	4
20 mph or more over	Yes	6
Reckless driving	Yes	6

The point values come from Code § 46.2-492. Under Code § 46.2-862, 20 mph or more over the limit, or over 85 mph, is also reckless driving.

CDL Speeding Ticket Virginia: Disqualification Periods

Disqualification means you may not drive a commercial motor vehicle for a set time. Section 46.2-341.20 sets two periods for serious traffic violations within 3 years:

Two convictions: “A 60-day disqualification period.”
Three convictions: “A 120-day disqualification period.”

The federal table in 49 CFR 383.51 uses the same 60-day and 120-day periods. One serious violation alone does not trigger these periods. The count is of convictions within a 3-year window.

Tickets in Your Personal Vehicle

A CDL holder also drives a personal car. Both Virginia and federal law cover that case.

The rule applies to drivers who hold a CDL or a commercial learner’s permit (CLP). An offense in a non-commercial vehicle counts toward disqualification only if the conviction “resulted in the revocation, cancellation, or suspension” of the license or driving privilege.

So a speeding conviction in your own car, without a suspension, revocation or cancellation, does not count toward the 60-day or 120-day periods. It can still add Virginia demerit points and stay on your DMV record.

Steps showing how serious traffic violations within 3 years build to a 60-day or 120-day CDL disqualification

No Masking or Deferral

Federal law bars states from hiding a CDL holder’s conviction. Under 49 CFR 384.226, “The State must not mask, defer imposition of judgment, or allow an individual to enter into a diversion program” that would keep the conviction off the CDLIS driver record.

The rule covers convictions “in any type of motor vehicle.” Parking, vehicle weight and vehicle defect violations are the only exceptions it names.

The Clinic Cannot Reduce the Charge

Virginia has a matching rule. Under Code § 46.2-505, a court may not use clinic attendance to reduce, dismiss or defer a conviction for a commercial vehicle offense. The same is true for a CDL holder’s offense in any vehicle.

In short, the clinic and the conviction are handled separately. The conviction still goes on the record.

The Commercial Driver Improvement Clinic

DMV has a separate clinic for commercial drivers. Its Driver Improvement page says that if you hold a CDL, or committed an offense while driving a commercial motor vehicle, and must attend a clinic, you must complete “a commercial driver improvement clinic designed specifically for commercial drivers.”

DMV’s commercial clinic page describes “an eight-hour state-approved commercial driver improvement course.” The same page says “DMV awards five safe driving points, once every 24 months.”

Online Does Not Count

DMV’s online clinic page is direct about this. It says “An online driver improvement clinic will not meet the requirements of a commercial driver improvement clinic.”

If DMV or a court requires a CDL holder to attend, the online clinic is not the right course. Check your notice or court order for the exact requirement.

Deadlines for a Required Clinic

When DMV orders a clinic, you must finish it within 90 days. If you do not, DMV suspends your license until you finish. Out-of-state college students, and military members stationed outside Virginia, may get more time only where no approved clinic is offered.

A DMV order to attend a clinic can be appealed within 30 days of the order, under Code § 46.2-489. A court order sets its own deadline, so read it closely.

Virginia Points and DMV Actions Still Apply

Federal disqualification is separate from Virginia’s point system. A conviction can trigger both. For drivers 18 and over, Virginia DMV acts at set point totals:

8 points in 12 months, or 12 in 24: DMV may send an advisory letter.
12 in 12, or 18 in 24: a clinic is required within 90 days.
18 in 12, or 24 in 24: a 90-day suspension plus a clinic, or 9 months in the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program plus a clinic, under Code § 46.2-506 as amended in 2025.

Points count for 2 years from the offense date.

Probation and a Restricted License

After a clinic order, a driver is placed on 6 months of probation under Code § 46.2-499. A point violation during probation brings a 45-, 60- or 90-day suspension.

A restricted license may be granted during the first such suspension. The Code says none allows driving a commercial motor vehicle.

How Long the Conviction Stays on Your Record

Points and the conviction run on different clocks. Demerit points count for 2 years from the offense date. The conviction itself stays on your DMV record much longer.

DMV’s four-point list shows speeding convictions kept for 5 years. Its six-point list shows reckless driving by speed kept for 11 years. Plain speeding 20 mph or more over is kept 5 years.

Records an Employer Can Request

DMV’s record request page lists an employment record that looks back up to 7 years. It must come with your signed release.

The same page describes a voluntary “Driver Alert” program for employers. A driving record costs $9, or $8 online, if you want to see your own record first.

Prepaying as a CDL Holder

Prepaying a Virginia speeding ticket is a guilty plea under Code § 16.1-69.40:1. The conviction goes to DMV. Reckless driving cannot be prepaid at all.

For a CDL holder, a conviction can count toward disqualification. Talk to a Virginia attorney about your own case before you decide how to respond. This page does not give legal strategy.

Facts that help that conversation:

The speed and the charge on your summons.
Whether you were in a commercial or a personal vehicle.
Any other serious traffic violations in the past 3 years.
Your current Virginia point balance.

What We Found on the Official Pages

Our check of the CDL rules on October 27, 2026 found that § 46.2-341.20 showed a history line ending in 2015. It still listed 15 mph or more over and reckless driving as serious traffic violations.

The eCFR showed 49 CFR 383.51 and 384.226 as up to date as of October 22, 2026. Section 383.51 still set the 60-day and 120-day periods, and § 384.226 still held the masking ban quoted above.

DMV’s commercial clinic page still described an eight-hour course. It still said DMV awards five safe driving points, once every 24 months.

Summary card of CDL speeding rules: serious violation at 15 mph over, 60 and 120 day disqualifications, commercial clinic required

Common Mistakes

Each item below comes from Virginia law, federal rules or a DMV page:

Using the reckless line as the CDL line. For a CDL, speeding becomes serious at 15 mph or more over.
Assuming a personal car ticket never counts. It counts if it leads to a suspension, revocation or cancellation.
Expecting a clinic to reduce the charge. Code § 46.2-505 bars that for CDL holders.
Taking the online clinic to meet a requirement. DMV says it does not meet the commercial clinic rule.
Forgetting Virginia points. A conviction adds 3, 4 or 6 points under Code § 46.2-492.
Missing the 90-day clinic deadline. DMV suspends the license until the required clinic is done.
Thinking prepaying keeps it quiet. Prepaying is a guilty plea, and the conviction goes to DMV.

How Requirements Can Vary

Virginia’s point rules, safe driving points and DMV clinic orders come from the Code of Virginia and DMV rules, and they apply statewide. What you must do still depends on whether you take the clinic by choice, because of a DMV notice, or under a court order. A court order sets its own deadline and proof steps.

Laws, fees and court practice can change. Check your DMV notice, your court order and the Virginia DMV website for current rules before you enroll or file anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a speeding ticket in my personal car affect my CDL in Virginia?

It counts toward CDL disqualification only if the conviction leads to a suspension, revocation or cancellation of your license. It can still add Virginia demerit points either way.

How many speeding tickets before a CDL disqualification?

Two serious traffic violations within 3 years bring a 60-day disqualification. Three bring 120 days. Speeding counts as serious at 15 mph or more over the limit.

Is 15 over a serious violation for a CDL?

Yes. Code § 46.2-341.20 and 49 CFR 383.51 both list speeding 15 mph or more over the posted limit as a serious traffic violation.

Can I take the online clinic if I have a CDL?

Not to meet a CDL clinic requirement. DMV says an online clinic does not meet the requirements of a commercial driver improvement clinic.

Can a court dismiss my CDL ticket if I take a clinic?

No. Code § 46.2-505 bars a court from using clinic attendance to reduce, dismiss or defer a CDL holder’s conviction. Federal law also bars masking.

Does a CDL speeding ticket add Virginia points?

Yes. Virginia demerit points apply under Code § 46.2-492: 3, 4 or 6 points by speed, and 6 for reckless driving.

Does the commercial clinic earn safe driving points?

DMV’s commercial clinic page says “DMV awards five safe driving points, once every 24 months.” If a court ordered the clinic, the court decides on points.

Can a CDL holder prepay a speeding ticket?

A prepayable speeding ticket can be prepaid, but prepaying is a guilty plea. Talk to a Virginia attorney about your case first.

Conclusion

For a CDL holder, a Virginia speeding ticket at 15 mph or more over can count toward a 60-day or 120-day disqualification. A clinic cannot reduce the charge, and a required clinic must be the commercial one, not an online course. If you are not under a clinic requirement and want to earn safe driving points by choice, you can take the Virginia Driver Improvement Course online.

Sources

Billy Forte is the owner of Driving Logic, a state-approved driver improvement course provider serving Virginia and other U.S. states.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Virginia DMV rules, court orders, fines and penalties depend on your notice, summons, court and case facts, and they can change. Use official Virginia DMV and court sources, and consult a qualified Virginia attorney for advice about your own case.