New York DMV quietly puts in place a more severe point system for bad driving
NEW YORK -- Bad driving will now lead to steeper penalties in New York state.
The Department of Motor Vehicles has overhauled its point system, and the points drivers accrue are going to stay on their record longer.
Drivers say it's dangerous out there on the roads, describing vehicles traveling at excessively high speeds, swerving in and out of lanes, and speeding in work zones.
The state has taken notice. Per Gov. Kathy Hochul, the DMV has rolled out what it calls "significant and aggressive" safety actions, and it did so without fanfare. Not even its website has been updated.
Yet, on Nov. 6, a new point system was put in place.
Increased points and fines go hand in hand
Drivers will now get points for violations that, surprisingly, used to have none.
- 11 points for alcohol- and drug-related convictions, and driving without a license
- 8 points for striking an overpass
- 5 points for illegal speed races
- And there are increased points for leaving the scene of a crash with injuries (from 3 to 5 points), speeding in a work zone (from 3-11 to 8), and passing a stopped school bus (from 5 to 8)
New York ticket attorney Matthew Weiss calls it a titanic shift.
"I have not seen DMV make such extensive changes to the point system, ever," Weiss said.
And you'll pay more, too, because each point comes with an added driver responsibility assessment fee. So speeding in a work zone will set you back $850.
"I think this is a cash grab, even though there are some changes that are effective ... The biggest change here is that it's going to cost motorists a lot more money," Weiss said.
DMV says changes designed to punish persistent violators
All of it comes as welcome news to driver safety advocate Dawn Riendeau, who fought for years to penalize people who drive unlicensed after her daughter was killed.
"Someone who's lost a family member, such as myself – my daughter, doesn't look at it as a money grab. We look at it as a way to save lives. People have to be held accountable for their actions," Riendeau said.
The DMV says the changes "bolster the ability to remove drivers who engage in risky behavior, and make it more difficult for persistent violators to get back their driving privilege."
"If the penalty doesn't seem to be deterring you, maybe the penalty has to be raised. I don't have a problem with that," one driver said.
"It promotes safety. It does. It almost forces your hand to stop," another said.
Points will also now stay on your license longer -- 24 months, up from 18 -- so drivers will have a greater chance of having their license suspended if they rack up more than 10 points in two years.
Some drivers say even the new rules are too lenient. One lowers the bar for a license to be revoked from five DWIs to four.
The new law could also impact your auto insurance. Any time a driver has a suspension on their record, it is held against them for three years.
