| Offense | Points for Violations Before 2/16/2026 | Points for Violations Beginning 2/16/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Any Alcohol- or Drug-Related Conviction or Incident | 0 | 11 |
| Aggravated Unlicensed Operation | 0 | 11 |
| Overtaking/Passing Stopped School Bus | 5 | 8 |
| Speeding in Construction Zone | Based on speed | 8 |
| Over-height Vehicle/Bridge Strike | 0 | 8 |
| Leaving Scene of a Personal Injury Crash | 3 | 5 |
| Failure to Exercise Due Care | 2 | 5 |
| Facilitating Aggravated Unlicensed Operation | 0 | 5 |
| Speed Contests and Races | 0 | 5 |
The New York State DMV Driver Violation Point System identifies high-risk drivers by assigning points to certain traffic convictions. Points are added based on the violation date (not conviction date) and remain active for a specified period. Accumulating too many points can trigger license suspension, Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA) fees (starting at 6 points in the relevant period), higher insurance rates, and other penalties.
Major updates take effect for violations on or after February 16, 2026, making the system stricter to target dangerous behaviors like speeding, distracted driving, and impaired operation.
Key changes include:
- Lower suspension threshold and longer look-back period: Previously, 11 points within 18 months could lead to suspension. Now, 10 points within 24 months may result in license suspension or review. This extended window allows points from older violations to overlap more easily with new ones.
- Increased point values for serious violations (effective February 16, 2026):
- Any alcohol- or drug-related conviction/incident: 11 points (previously 0 in the point system for some cases).
- Aggravated unlicensed operation: 11 points (previously 0).
- Passing a stopped school bus: 8 points (up from 5).
- Speeding in a construction/work zone: 8 points (flat rate, regardless of speed; previously varied by mph over limit).
- Failure to exercise due care (e.g., causing injury/property damage): 5 points (up from 2).
- Leaving the scene of a personal injury crash: 5 points (up from 3).
- Other increases reported in some sources include cell phone use while driving (potentially up to 6 points from 5) and certain speeding tiers.
Standard speeding points (outside zones) appear largely unchanged in core listings: 3 points (1-10 mph over), 4 (11-20), 6 (21-30), 8 (31-40), and 11 (over 40). Reckless driving remains at 5 points, though some reports suggest increases for related offenses.
Other notes:
- No points for equipment violations.
- Completing a DMV-approved Point and Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP/defensive driving course) can still reduce up to 4 points for suspension calculations (points don’t physically disappear) and earn a 10% insurance discount for 3 years.
- The system aims to deter persistent violators more effectively, with higher risks for impaired, distracted, or zone-related offenses.
These reforms, announced by the NY DMV, emphasize road safety. Drivers should check the official DMV site (dmv.ny.gov) for the full updated list, as details may finalize. Safe driving is key to avoiding rapid accumulation under the tougher rules.
