New York’s DMV Overhauls Point System: What Drivers Need to Know About The Changes

Our traffic ticket law firm has been helping motorists navigate New York’s vehicle and traffic laws for well over 30 years. In that time, we have never seen such a titanic shift in the New York point system and related regulations as those changes recently promulgated by DMV. New York’s DMV recent approved drastic changes to its point system, increased points for certain moving violations and tightened penalties for drivers with points.

DMV writes that these changes “bolster the ability to remove drivers who engage in risky behavior from New York roadways and make it more difficult for persistent violators to get back their driving privilege.” I agree, to an extent, that these ends will be modestly met.  However, in my opinion, the primary reason behind most of these changes is for New York to grab more money from its residents. These changes will result in millions of dollars of revenue going to the state. Below I will break down the important changes.

New Rules Apply Statewide But Not Currently Being Applied In The Traffic Violations Bureau 

As a threshold matter, the roll out of the rules has not been smooth. While the changes have been officially promulgated and are effective as of November 6, 2024, in typical governmental fashion, the software system used by DMV’s Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) is unable to be updated to incorporate the changes.  We are told that the new TVB software will not be launched until sometime in 2025. Therefore, the new rules set forth below are apparently being applied throughout the state, except in New York City traffic courts (unless DMV somehow plans on manually change the records of motorists after-the-fact).  Crazy! Right?  We believe New York City criminal courts will also be implementing the new rules as they do not use the same software as the TVB.

NY DMV’s Point System Will Calculate Points Differently: Look Back Period Extended From 18- to 24-months

The most substantial change is how DMV will calculate points for moving violation convictions. No one wants any points on their license but previously they only counted against you for 18 months from the date of offense (even if the conviction occurred much later in time). Now, points for DMV accumulation purposes will remain viable for 24 months from the date of offense. We believe that the extended “look back” period will also apply to violations occurring before the effective date of the new rules.

Despite the extra 6 months, in most cases (exceptions below), motorists can still accumulate up to 10 points before a possible suspension. It is not hard to predict that the expanded “look back” period will result in many more suspensions and the higher points will result in the payment of more Driver Responsibility Assessment Fees (DRAF). The longer points count against you, the greater the chance for them to be aggregated with other tickets. There is, thus, even a stronger case for motorists to fight any NY moving violation.

By the way, the Driver Safety Class that deducts up to 4 points from your total continues to only deduct for violations that occurred within 18 months of the class (not 24 months).  15 NYCRR 131.5.  The imposition of the DRAF will still only be calculated for 18 months from the date of offense. VTL 503(4)(a).

Various 0-Point Offenses Will Now Carry Points

Another big change is that certain violations that did not previously carry points will now have them.

• Alcohol & Drug-Related Convictions (DWI, DWAI, Aggravated DWI, and DWAI-Drugs) under Vehicle & Traffic Law (“VTL”) § 1192 will now come with 11 points (in addition to many other penalties).  The points are in addition to the many other, severe penalties that already come from driving while intoxicated, impaired or drugged. Similarly, an Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (AUO) conviction will carry 11 points under the new 2024 DMV rules. AUO is a misdemeanor in New York and occurs when someone drives when he or she knows or should know that his/her license or privilege to drive is suspended. Sometimes this occurs non-maliciously, such as when someone fails to update his or her address with DMV and, thus, fails to receive a court or DMV notice. Critically, Alcohol & Drug Related Convictions and AUOs did not previously carry points. The effect of this change is that now motorists will be subject to a $675 Driver Responsibility Assessment Fee if convicted of any of these charges (see exception below). The DRAF will be higher for those motorists with other points within 18 months of an alcohol or drug-related driving conviction or AUO conviction.This rule also includes additional and troubling language that could have a big impact. It states that 11 points will also be imposed “for any other incident of driving during a period of license suspension or revocation”.  15 NYCRR 131.3(b)(1)(ii).  This broad language suggests that a motorist will receive 11 points if he or she is found guilty of driving while suspended even if the charge is for something else.  So a person convicted of running a red light while his or her license is suspended would theoretically get 3 points for the red light violation PLUS 11 points because he or she did so while suspended. Whether this vague language is interpreted in such a manner is an open question but we will be watching it carefully.

Exception: DMV found a modicum of grace in its new rules. For first-time offenses involving alcohol or drug-related driving convictions and AUO convictions, the 11 points will not count toward the look back period for purposes of your point total. They will only count if the violation is a second (or more) conviction. It is unclear whether this is grace is a once in a lifetime exception but I would bet so. In practice, this helps first AUO offenders from being suspended for too many points. It does not help those convicted of alcohol or drug-related driving as these offenses already carry suspensions or revocations. Further, first offenders will still have to pay the $750 DRAF that currently is imposed on those convicted of alcohol and drug-related driving offenses. Another interesting question is whether a person with a second (or more) offense will have to pay both the $675 DRAF for the 11 points and the $750 DRAF for the drug/alcohol conviction? My strong feeling is “yes” despite it being unfairly duplicative.

• Conviction to Facilitating Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (VTL § 511-a) will carry 5 points (formerly 0 points) in addition to the current fines and surcharges. A DRAF is not triggered by one conviction to this charge (as the DRAF only occurs at or above 6 points); but it now will be part of the accumulation of points towards the imposition of a DRAF.  This offense is often offered as part of a plea bargain to those charged with a AUO misdemeanor because facilitating AUO is only a violation. So now accepting such a plea will result in 5 points plus fine and surcharge.
• Convictions to Speed Contests or Races (VTL § 1182) will now carry 5 points (formerly 0 points) in addition to the current fines and surcharges.  Note this charge is also a misdemeanor (ie, a criminal charge). A DRAF is not triggered by a conviction to this charge alone (as the DRAF only occurs at or above 6 points); but it will be counted toward your total accumulation of points and, therefore, can contribute to the imposition of a DRAF.
• Overheight Violations VTL 385 (2) or (14) applies to truck drivers and now when someone operates a truck that is too tall (“over height”) and strikes a bridge or structure while going through, under or over under VTL 385 (2) or (14), he or she will get 8 points (formerly 0 points) plus a $450 Driver Responsibility Assessment Fee.

Note: You will only get points if any of the above charges occur on or after the effective date of the new rules (i.e., November 6, 2024). Prior to that date, the old 0-point rules will apply.

Various Point Offenses Will Now Carry More Points

Other NY moving violations have been assigned increased points. Passing a Stopped School Bus under VTL § 1174 has been increased from 5 to 8 points. Previously, a conviction for this offense alone did not alone carry a DRAF. Now a school bus violation will carry a $450 DRAF (assuming you have an otherwise clean record).

A conviction for speeding in a work zone (ie, speeding while driving through a highway construction or maintenance work area at a speed in excess of the posted work area speed limit), pursuant to section 1180(f) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law will earn you 8 points plus a $450 Driver Responsibility Assessment Fee. The odd part of this new rule is that motorists who are speeding 41+ mph in a work zone apparently are “only” subject to 8 points (while in a non-work zone they would be subject to an 11-point ticket). On the other hand, now motorists who are just going a few mph over the limit in a work zone will get a big penalty … 8 points plus a $450 Driver Responsibility Assessment Fee. Note: Fines are still doubled for work zone speeding tickets.

Similarly, Leaving the Scene of a Personal Injury Crash under VTL § 600, a misdemeanor, now carries 5 points (up from 3 points previously). This offense occurs when you fail to exchange information at an accident involving personal injury.

Finally, points for violating the Failure to Use Due Care statute under VTL § 1146 (an offense issued for failing to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian, or domestic animal) has been raised from 2 points to 5 points.

Reminder:  You will only get these increased points if the date of offense occurs on or after November 6, 2024.  Prior to that date the old point total still applies.

Restoration Of Driving Privileges Will Be Harder

The new rules also make it harder to get your license back following multiple alcohol or drug-related convictions. Currently, re-licensure is denied if a driver has 5 or more alcohol or drug-related driving convictions. The new rule lowers this threshold to 4 or more convictions.

More Onerous Administrative Action

New York drivers will be further burdened by these new rules in regard to DMV administrative action.  If a driver accumulates 4 to 6 points within a 24-month period, he or she will now receive a warning letter from the DMV. Accumulating 7 to 10 points within that same period will result in mandatory attendance at a Driver Improvement Clinic. Whether a Driver Improvement Clinic is the same as New York’s 6-hour Driver Safety Class is still unclear.

If a motorist reaches any of the below thresholds, that driver will need to attend a formal hearing to determine whether he or she is a habitual or persistent violator and, if so, whether his or her license or privilege to drive should be suspended. Failure to attend can result in a license suspension.

• Accumulation of 11+ points in a 24-month period (except for a single alcohol, drug-related or AUO conviction that is a first offense). This is the same as under the prior law but with a longer look back period.
• Accumulation of 9+ points from speeding violations specifically in a 24-month period. This is stricter than the prior law. Previously, you were allowed to accumulate up to 10 points from 2 speeding convictions without a formal hearing (14 points if you timely completed New York’s Driver Safety Class).
• Accumulation of 4+ additional points within 12 months after a prior formal hearing. This is a new rule to punish repeat offenders and actually seems reasonable to me.

The new regulations also state that a motorist may be instructed to attend such a hearing if he or she is charged with three or more point violations within an unusually short period of time (regardless of how many points these violations carry). 15 NYCRR 131.4(d). This rule is particularly troubling and unclear. What is an “unusually short period of time” and why is a hearing being required from someone who has simply been “charged” with point violations? Whether and how this last mandate is implemented is unclear but, in my opinion, it may not actually be routinely enforced (given that DMV will be very busy with other hearings and the vague nature of the language).

Conclusion

Of course, you are welcome to read the actual language of the new DMV rules and regulations rather than relying upon our summary. New York’s revised point system regulation can be found at 15 NYCRR 131.3 and the revised regulation regarding administrative action against license holders can be found at 15 NYCRR 131.4.

The above changes mean the DMV is getting tougher on dangerous driving and motorists will be writing many more checks to DMV. Keep in mind that the higher points assigned to the above offenses only apply to tickets issued on or after the effective date of the new rules. For earlier traffic tickets, the old points still apply. It is critical that all drivers should be aware of these new rules so please share this article with your family and friends. Drive safe and feel free to call at 212-683-7373 or email us any time with any New York traffic ticket, point or suspension question! The consultation is always free.

Summary Chart of the DMV Point Changes (as of November 6, 2024):