You may remember worrying about poor grades or incidents of bad behavior going on your “permanent record” when you were a student. As an adult, you’ve realized that didn’t turn out to be as big of a concern as you once thought. However, is that the case with your driving record as well?
Not necessarily. Any driving violations you may have committed are reported and added to your driving record. In New York, a driver can obtain a copy of this document, known as an Abstract Driving Record, from the State’s Department of Motor Vehicles.
The Point System
Not all drivers understand that there is a difference between traffic violation “points” that are attached to their driver’s license and their driving record. New York uses a point system to identify and penalize high-risk drivers.
Depending on the violation, between two and 11 points may be attached. Accumulating points increases insurance costs, but that’s just the beginning. As of November 2024, the points system in New York has been revised to include more severe punishments and penalties. As a result, getting a total of 11 points within 24 months could cause your driver’s license to be suspended.
In addition, the more points you have, the higher the penalties will be for any future traffic violations. For example, if you already have six points and are stopped for speeding, you will be charged $75 for every point over six in addition to the speeding citation. New York drivers who exceed 11 points may have their licenses suspended.
Points are not permanent. You may be able to erase them from your record almost immediately by attending driving school. In most cases, due to the recent changes in traffic law, violation points are purged from your license 24 months after the date the violation was issued.
Traffic Tickets and Your Driving Record
Traffic tickets stay on your record until the end of the year in which they occurred, plus an additional three years. To clarify, if you plead guilty to or are convicted of a red light violation in January, the violation will remain on your driving record for a total of three years and 11 months.
Traffic Tickets and Your Car Insurance
The State of New York isn’t the only entity tracking your traffic violations. Your insurance company also keeps an eye on citations. While each insurer has its own policies, it may have tickets stay on your record for up to five years. During that time, the cost of your coverage may continue to increase.
Should you fight a traffic ticket?
If you’re concerned about which traffic tickets stay on your record, fighting the violation in court may be the best approach. Successfully challenging a citation means the ticket will not be reflected on your driving record, and no points will be attached to your license.
Winning a case will also help keep insurance premiums affordable. Depending on the circumstance, contesting the ticket may even help you avoid license suspension and other penalties.
The best approach for fighting a ticket is to contact an experienced attorney. An attorney may be able to reduce any penalties and negotiate a favorable resolution. Don’t assume your only options are to pay the fine or attend traffic school. It is possible to successfully dispute all types of traffic citations, even a DWI.
Do you have traffic tickets on your record?
Erasing tickets you have already paid or pleaded guilty to is not possible, but consulting with a traffic ticket lawyer can help you avoid future penalties. The New York Traffic Ticket Lawyers want to help make the experience of contesting a ticket in Central New York as easy as possible.
