The consequences of having too many traffic violations

Some people think that a traffic violation, such as a speeding or parking ticket, is just a nuisance. They would rather pay the fine than fight it.

However, the state keeps track of these tickets and penalizes drivers that deem to be of high risk.

Driver Violation Point System

A person may forget about a ticket after he or she has paid it, but the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles does not forget. The department keeps track of each violation and assigns points to each one. The points go on someone’s driving record after a conviction, but the data recorded is the date of the violation, not the conviction.

Examples of violations and the associated points

Not all driving violations have points involved. Some of these include parking, bicycle and pedestrian violations, vehicle inspection violations and business-related violations. However, examples of violations that do have points, and the number of them assigned include:

• Reckless driving: 5 points
• Speeding: 3 to 11 points
• Improper cell phone use: 5 points
• Red light: 3 points
• Child safety restraint: 3 points
• Failure to signal: 2 points

Consequences associated with the point system

If a driver reaches 11 points within 18 months, there may be a suspension of the individual’s driver’s license. Drivers that receive six points in an 18-month period must pay an assessment fee. Although car insurance companies use their own point system, another consequence of accumulated points is higher insurance premiums.

It is possible to decrease the number of points if someone has 11 or more points on the record. Taking a Point and Insurance Reduction Program can subtract four points.