Chapter 2: How to Keep Your License

Topics:
 Special Rules for Drivers with Junior Permits & Licenses
 Probation Period for All Other Newly Licensed Drivers
 If You Receive a Traffic Ticket
 Traffic Tickets Received Out of State
 Mandatory Suspension or Revocation
 The Point System
 Traffic Crashes
 Fees and Civil Penalties
 Driver Responsibility Assessments
 Driving While Suspended or Revoked

Note: Practice quizzes are available only for those sections of the manual
covering rules of the road (Chapters 4 through 11 and Road Signs).

If you commit a serious traffic violation or several violations that are less serious,
you can lose your driving privilege through suspension or revocation of your
license.

“Suspension” means your license (or privilege to drive) is taken away for a period
of time before it is returned. You may be required to pay a suspension termination
fee.

“Revocation” means your license (or privilege to drive) is cancelled. To get a new
license, you must re-apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) once the
revocation period is over. You may be required to pay a license re-application fee.
Your application may be denied if you have a poor driving record or refuse to meet
DMV requirements. Revocation periods may be longer than the minimum periods
listed in this publication.
“Driving privilege” means the courtesy extended to out-of-state-drivers that
allows them to drive a motor vehicle in New York State. It also refers to permission
from New York State for a person without a license to get a New York driver
license. A driving privilege can be suspended or revoked for the same reasons as
are New York driver licenses. Driving with a suspended or revoked privilege
carries the same penalties as driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Special Rules for Drivers with Junior Permits &

Licenses
Every driver with a junior permit or driver license could face sanctions and other
penalties. For example, your permit, license or privileges will be suspended for 60
days if you are convicted of a serious traffic violation (three points or more) or two
other violations.

Your junior permit, license or privileges will be revoked for 60 days if you are
convicted of a serious violation (three points or more), or two other violations
within the first six months after you receive your license or privileges back
following suspension or revocation.

In addition, your junior permit, license or privileges will be suspended for 120 days
when you are convicted of a texting or cell phone violation.

A junior permit must be held for a minimum of six months, excluding any time the
permit is suspended or revoked, before a
road test can be scheduled.

Probation Period for All Other Newly Licensed Drivers

If you are 18 or older when you pass your road test for a driver license, or obtain a
license following revocation, you will be on probation for six months.

If you are convicted of DWAI (alcohol), speeding, reckless driving, following too
closely, participating in a speed contest, or any two traffic violations while on
probation, your license will be suspended for 60 days. Following the end of the 60-
day suspension, a new six-month probationary period will begin. If you are found
guilty of one of the above violations or any two traffic violations during this second
probationary period, your license will be revoked for at least six months. If your
license is restored following the revocation, you will be on probation for another
six months.

If you are convicted of a texting or cell phone violation, your probationary license
will be suspended for 120 days.

If You Receive a Traffic Ticket

If you receive a traffic ticket, do not delay – follow the instructions on the ticket for
the plea you want to make. Your driver license will be suspended indefinitely if you
do not answer the ticket in the time allowed, or pay a fine (other than parking
tickets and fines), surcharge, crime victim assistance fee or suspension-
termination fee. If you do not respond that you have received the ticket, you could
be found guilty by default conviction. If you are convicted by default, your license
will be suspended for not paying the fine and a judgment will be entered against
you.

The DMV Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) processes the tickets for non-criminal
moving traffic violations issued in the five boroughs of New York City and
Rochester. The TVB system allows the other courts in these areas to concentrate
on criminal cases. This includes driving offenses like Driving While Intoxicated
(DWI) and driving while suspended or revoked. In other areas of the state, traffic
violations are processed in the criminal and traffic court of the city, county, town
or village where the alleged offense occurred. No matter what court system is
involved, every motorist who receives a traffic ticket can present a defense and be
represented by a lawyer.

Traffic Tickets Received Out of State

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles does not record convictions of
moving traffic violations by NYS non-commercial licensed drivers in other
jurisdictions, except traffic offenses committed in the provinces of Ontario and
Quebec in Canada. Out-of-state traffic convictions, except for Ontario and Quebec,
are not added to your New York State “violation point” driving record.

However, your New York driver license will be suspended if you fail to answer a
ticket for a moving traffic violation in any state except Alaska, California,
Michigan, Montana, Oregon or Wisconsin. Your license will remain suspended until
you answer the ticket. For clearance of your NYS driver license or permit you must
submit proof to the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles that the ticket has been
satisfied. If you are a driver from any state, except one of the six states listed
above, you will have your driver license suspended in your own state if you fail to
answer a moving traffic violation summons in New York State.

If you are over 21 years old and are convicted of an alcohol- or drug-related driving
violation (e.g., DUI) in another state or the provinces of Ontario and Quebec in
Canada, your New York driver license will be revoked for at least 90 days. Out-of-
state drivers who get tickets in New York State can contact the motor vehicle
department of their own state or province about how a conviction affects them.

If you are under 21 years old and convicted of any alcohol or drug-related violation
that occurred out of state, your New York driver license will be revoked for at least
one year. If you have any alcohol conviction your license will be revoked for at
least one year or until the age of 21, whichever is longer.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles records the conviction of any
New York driver for criminal negligence, homicide, or assault that arises from the
operation of a motor vehicle and which results in death. The driver license or
privilege to drive will be revoked and vehicle registrations may also be revoked. It
does not matter if the conviction occurred in this state or another state.
 Mandatory Suspension or Revocation
Your driver license or driving privilege can be suspended or revoked for many
reasons. NOTE: Motorboat and snowmobile operators less than 21 years old who
drink alcohol face similar penalties and sanctions against their privileges to
operate a motorboat or snowmobile. Examples of revocations and suspensions that
are required by law:

Alcohol and Drug Violations (Also see Chapter 9: Alcohol and Other
Drugs)

 Aggravated driving while intoxicated (Agg-DWI), with .18 of one percent blood
alcohol content (.18 BAC): minimum one-year revocation.
 Driving while intoxicated (DWI), with .08 of one percent blood alcohol content (.08
BAC): minimum six-month revocation
 Driving while ability impaired by alcohol (DWAI): 90-day suspension.
 Driving while ability impaired by drugs (DWAI-drug): minimum six-month
suspension
 Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs out-of-state (DUI): minimum 90-day
to six-month revocation, depending on conviction.

Chemical Test Refusals (Also see Chapter 9: Alcohol and Other Drugs)

 Chemical test refusal, drivers over age 21: minimum one-year revocation
 Chemical test refusal, drivers over age 21, within five years of a prior refusal
revocation or any alcohol or drug-related violation: minimum 18-month revocation
 Chemical test refusal, drivers under age 21, first time: minimum one-year
revocation
 Chemical test refusal, drivers under age 21, second time: Minimum revocation
until age 21 or one year, whichever is longer
 Zero Tolerance test refusal: Minimum one-year revocation

Drivers Under Age 21

If you are under age 21 when arrested, conviction for any of the alcohol or drug-
related violations listed above will result in a minimum one-year revocation. A
second violation while under age 21 requires a revocation for one year or until you
reach age 21, whichever is longer. These penalties apply to youthful offenders, or
if you were arrested or convicted out of state (see Traffic Tickets Received Out-Of-
State).

Under the state’s “Zero Tolerance Law,” a driver under age 21 will have the
license suspended for six months if found to have a BAC from .02 to .07. A .02 BAC
could occur from only one drink. For a second Zero Tolerance violation, the driver
license will be revoked for one year or until the driver turns age 21, whichever is
longer.

Speeding and Other Violations

 Your driver license will be revoked for at least six months if you are found guilty of:

 Three speeding and/or misdemeanor traffic violations within 18 months (based on

date of violation, not date of conviction).
 Three “passing a stopped school bus” violations within three years.
 One violation of “leaving the scene of a personal injury or fatal accident.”
 One “participating in a speed contest” violation. Conviction of a second speed
contest violation within 12 months results in a revocation of at least one year.

No Insurance
Your driver license will be revoked for at least one year if you operate or allow
another person to operate your uninsured vehicle, or if the DMV receives evidence
that you were involved in a traffic crash without being insured. If the insurance
coverage for your vehicle has expired, you must turn in the license plates and
registration to a motor vehicle office. If the vehicle is removed from the road and
not being driven, you must return the plates or you can face civil penalties or
registration suspension and/or license suspension.

Indefinite Suspensions/Revocations
Your driver license will also be suspended indefinitely if you fail to file an accident
report, submit a bad check or incur a credit card charge back for DMV fees, fail to
pay child support, fail to pay taxes or fail to fulfill a court judgment that results
from a traffic accident. This suspension will be in effect until you correct the
condition that led to the suspension.

The Point System

The DMV point system identifies “persistent violators”, that is, drivers who commit
a series of violations in a short time period. The table in this chapter lists the point
values assigned to various moving traffic violations.* Note that traffic laws which
must be obeyed on public highways, roads and streets also apply to parking lots
open to the public.

While each violation listed alone is not serious enough to require license
suspension or revocation, the accumulation of several violations on your driving
record can indicate that action must be taken.

The point values charged against your record are from the date you commit the
violation, not the date you are convicted. If you get 11 or more points within 18
months, you will be notified by mail that your driver license will be suspended. You
can request a DMV hearing only to show that the convictions in question were not
yours. You cannot re-argue the convictions or request the suspension be waived
based on special circumstances.

You can reduce your point total by up to four points and save up to 10 percent on
your auto liability and collision insurance premiums by taking a DMV-approved
“Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course.” Completion of a point reduction
course cannot prevent a mandatory suspension or revocation or be applied as a
“credit” against future points, or prevent or reduce a Driver Responsibility
Assessment by the DMV.
The Point System

VIOLATION POINTS

Speeding MPH not specified 3

Speeding MPH over posted limit 3

1 to 10

11 to 20 4

21 to 30 6

31 to 40 8

More than 40 11

Reckless driving 5

Passing a stopped school bus 5

Inadequate brakes 4

Following too closely (tailgating) 4

Use of mobile telephone or portable electronic device while 5

operating a motor vehicle

Improper passing, unsafe lane change, drove left of center, or 3

drove wrong direction

Violation involving a traffic signal, stop sign or yield sign 3

Failing to yield right-of-way 3

Railroad crossing violation 5

Leaving scene of incident involving property damage or injury 3

to domestic animal
 The Point System

VIOLATION POINTS

Safety restraint violation involving person under 16 3

Inadequate brakes (while driving employer’s vehicle) 2

Any other moving violation 2

Note: Insurance companies can have their own point systems. These have no
relationship to and should not be confused with the DMV point system.

*All V&T Law violations result in fines to the driver in addition to license sanctions.

Traffic Crashes
At this time, except where required by law, the term “accident” is frequently
replaced by “crash.” This is because a “crash” can normally be prevented. If you
are involved in a traffic crash in which another person is killed, your license can be
suspended or revoked after a DMV hearing even if you were not charged with a
violation when the incident occurred.

Fees and Civil Penalties

In most cases, if your driver license has been suspended for an exact period, like
30 days or 90 days, your license will not be returned until you pay a non-
refundable $50 suspension termination fee. If your license was suspended as a
result of the Zero Tolerance Law, you will be required to pay a $125 civil penalty
and a $100 suspension termination fee.

In most cases, if your driver license has been revoked, you cannot apply for a new
license until you pay a non-refundable $100 fee to reapply for the license. This fee
is not required if your license was revoked for operating without insurance or if
you were issued a license with conditions or restricted uses.

Vehicle Owners - A law was passed in 2019 1 that authorizes school districts and
municipalities to use stop-arm cameras on school buses to impose penalties on the
owners of vehicles which pass a school bus while the school bus is stopped for the
purpose of dropping off or picking up passengers and red lights on the school bus
are flashing.

 First violation - penalty of $250

 Second violation within 18 months - penalty of $275
 Third violation (or more) within 18 months - penalty of $300

After the following revocations, you must pay a civil penalty to DMV before your
application for a new license can be accepted:

 Operating without insurance or accident without insurance: $750 civil penalty.

 Chemical test refusal: $500 civil penalty ($550 if while driving a commercial motor
vehicle).
 Chemical test refusal within five years of an earlier alcohol, drug or refusal-related
revocation: $750 civil penalty.

Driver Responsibility Assessments

In addition to any fines, fees, penalties and surcharges authorized by law, you may
have to pay a “Driver Responsibility Assessment” for some violations that result in
a conviction or administrative finding. Your learner permit, driver license or
driving privileges will be suspended if you do not make these payments.

If you are convicted of Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated (Agg-DWI), Driving

While Intoxicated (DWI), Driving While Ability Impaired (DWAI), Driving While
Ability Impaired by Drugs, DWAI-alcohol combined with drugs, or if you refused to
submit to a chemical test, you will be required to pay a driver responsibility
assessment of $250 each year for the next three years.
If you are convicted of one or more traffic violations resulting in six points in any
18-month period, you will be required to pay $100 each year for the next three
years. For each additional point you receive during that period, you will be
required to pay another $25 per point every year for three years. For information
about how points are assessed, see “The Point System” in this chapter.

This assessment applies to motorists convicted of violations while driving motor

vehicles, and in some cases, motorboats and snowmobiles. Completion of a DMV-
approved “Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Course” will not prevent or reduce
the calculation of points that affect the Driver Responsibility Assessment.

Driving While Suspended or Revoked

It is a criminal violation to drive while your license is suspended or revoked, and
there are mandatory fines from $200 to $5,000. You can face mandatory
imprisonment or probation. The vehicle being driven could be seized and forfeited.
More severe penalties apply to drivers who drive while intoxicated or impaired by
alcohol or drugs while their license or privilege are already under suspension or
revocation for a previous alcohol or drug-related incident. Drivers with 10 or more
suspensions for failure to answer traffic tickets or pay fines are also subject to
severe penalties. Drivers with 20 or more suspensions for failure to answer tickets
or pay fines face a criminal charge, even if you were not driving when arrested.