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Points on Your Driving Record
When you get a traffic ticket in New York, you get more than just a fine. You also get points assessed on your driver’s license. The Driver Violation Point System in New York is a way for the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to both identify and take necessary action against drivers that are determined to be high risk. Different traffic violations will mean different amount of points on your license. Amassing points will eventually lead to your license being suspended.
What do Points on Your Driving Record Mean?
In order to have points on your driving record, you must first be convicted of a traffic violation. Your total points are based on the date the traffic violation occurred as opposed to the date of your conviction of the traffic offense. All points for violations that occurred within the last 18 months are totaled up. If you get a total of 6 or more points on your driving record within the 18-month period, you must pay a Driver Responsibility fee. If you get a total of 11 points on your record within the 18-month period, it will result in the suspension of your driver’s license.
Different traffic offenses carry different point amounts that will be added to your driving record if you are convicted of the offense. Common traffic violations and the corresponding point amounts that will be assessed include:
- Speeding:
- 1 to 10 mph over speed limit: 3 points
- 11-20 mph over speed limit: 4 points
- 21-30 mph over speed limit: 6 points
- 31 to 40 mph over speed limit: 8 points
- Over 40 mph: 11 points
- Reckless driving: 5 points
- Tailgating: 4 points
- Failure to yield right-of-way: 3 points
- Disobeying a traffic control signal such as a stop sign or a yield sign: 3 points
There are some traffic violations that do not include points on your driving records. These violations include:
- Any bicycle violation
- Any pedestrian violation
- Any parking violation
It also important to be aware of the fact that points will not be added to your New York State driving record if you are convicted of a traffic violation in another state or country. The exception to this is if the traffic violation happened in Ontario or Quebec. New York has a reciprocal agreement with Quebec and Ontario. This means that traffic violation convictions that happen in these provinces will end up on your New York State driving record. A traffic conviction in Quebec or Ontario will mean the same thing for your driving record as if it had occurred in the State of New York.
If you accrue 11 or more points on your driver record, taking part in a point and insurance reduction program may help avoid losing your license. A point and insurance reduction program must be approved by the DMV. Upon completion of the program, 4 points will be subtracted for the purpose of calculating a suspension if you have accrued 22 or more points. The points do not actually come off of your record, but they will not be included in the 18-month time period points calculation. Additionally, completion of the program may save you 10 percent on your automobile liability and collision insurance premiums. This is nice since getting points on your license often means an increase in your insurance premiums. Every insurance company has a point system of their own.
To check the status of the points on your driving record, you can access you MyDMV through the New York State DMV website.
Experienced Traffic Offense Attorneys
Remember, points will only be assessed if you are convicted of a traffic violation. The attorneys at CDH Law fight off a conviction so that you will not have to worry about points on your license that could eventually lead to you losing your license. Do not make the mistake in thinking a traffic violation is a minor thing. Traffic violations can have big consequences, especially when they are not properly handled. Contact us today.