New York takes driving violations seriously. If you get enough points on the point system, your driver’s license can be suspended.
How does the point system work?
There are many common traffic violations that can end up counting as points against your driver’s license. If you have committed a violation, it will count as a certain number of points on your record. How many points a violation equates to depends on the specific violation. For example, if you are caught speeding 1 to 10 miles per hour over the legal speed limit, you can get three points toward your driving record. If you’re driving at more than 40 miles per hour over the speed limit, it counts as 11 points. If you rack up 11 or more violation points against your driving record within 18 months, your license will be suspended temporarily or even permanently depending on the violations.
How can points be removed?
If your license has not yet been suspended but you have points against it, you can have them removed. This is possible by participating in a Point and Insurance Reduction Program, or PIRP, that must be approved by the state. PIRP is a defensive driving course that teaches you valuable information on how to improve your driving. It can remove four points from your license and lower your car insurance rate by 10%.
With PIRP, you can participate online without having to be behind the wheel. It’s accessible 24 hours per day on any device, so you can participate in your own time and pace.
How long do points remain on your record?
If you accrue moving violations on your driving record, those points will remain for 18 months. However, the violations themselves will appear on your record for as long as four years.
The best thing you can do is to avoid committing any traffic violations. It can help you to retain your license and avoid racking up points.