New York Driver Violation Point System
The NYS DMV driver violation point system helps to identify drivers who commit several traffic violations during a specific time period.
Remember that the point system is not the only reason for a driver license suspension or revocation. There are mandatory suspensions or revocations. For example, the DMV must revoke your driver license if you are convicted of three speeding violations within an 18-month period, regardless of how many driver violation points you have.

This table lists the number of points given for specific traffic violations:

How the DMV Calculates Your Point Total
The New York DMV computer system automatically calculates your point total as follows:

• You must be convicted of the traffic violation for the points to be added to your point total, but the calculation of your point total is based on the date of the violation, not the date of the conviction.
• The points for violations that all occurred within the last 18 months of one another are added together to calculate your point total.
• The record of the conviction, and the points, are listed on your driver record for as long as the conviction remains on your record. The information about the conviction and points is not removed after 18 months from the violation date. Only the calculation of your point total changes. Learn more about convictions and your driver record.

Point Total Example
You are convicted of a 3-point violation and the violation occurred on January 1, 2009. You are later convicted of a 4-point violation that occurred on July 1, 2010. Your point total includes the points from both violations, because they both occurred with a single 18-month period. Your point total is 7 points.

The Effect of Points
If your point total reaches 11 points or more based on the calculation described above, the DMV notifies you and suspends your driver license. You can request a DMV hearing only to show that a different person committed the violations. You cannot request a DMV hearing to prove that you were not guilty of the violations. You cannot request a DMV hearing to request a waiver of the suspension.

Insurance Company Points and Out-of-State Violations
Insurance companies have point systems that are different from the DMV driver violation point system. The two point systems are not related. Contact your insurance company about their point system.
Except for Ontario and Quebec, points are not added to your NYS driver record if you commit an out-of-state traffic violation. Points can appear on your NYS driver record if you commit a traffic violation in Ontario or Quebec.

Driver Responsibility Program
To get information about driver responsibility assessments and the Driver Responsibility Program, read the FAQs.

How to Reduce Your Points and Your Insurance Premiums

If you take a DMV-approved accident prevention course also known as Defensive Driving, you can

• reduce your driver violation point total by a maximum of four points, and
• save 10 percent on your automobile liability and collision insurance premiums.

You can now receive the point or insurance benefits for an Internet defensive driving course.
A defensive driving course and point reduction does not affect a driver responsibility assessment.
You cannot use the defensive driving course as a credit against future driver violation points.
The DMV computer system automatically applies the point reduction when your defensive driving course completion is added to your record. Your record shows your convictions and the points they carry, and has a notation that you completed the course and that a reduction of up to 4 points has been applied. Your driver record does not show any summary or total that includes the subtraction of the points. The reduction is automatically applied within the DMV computer system.
For more information, read the DMV brochure, The Point and Insurance Reduction Program,

Military Personnel and New York Driver License

Important information for NYS military personnel who return from active duty that is related to the war on terrorism or the military action in Iraq.

Automatic Military Extension: A valid NYS driver license is automatically extended when you are on active military duty. Your driver license does not expire and is extended during your active service. Your driver license is also extended for a maximum of six months after your discharge from military service. Complete form MV-75 (Military Service Notification) to inform the DMV to update your driver record. The DMV will keep your driver record after the expiration date of your driver license.

Form MV-75 (Military Service Notification): This form is normally filed when you enter military service. You can file form MV-75 after you enter military service, but you must file the form before your NYS driver license expires. If your driver license expires before you file form MV-75, you must send the form and a letter from your commanding officer. The letter must certify the date that you entered military service and that you are on active duty. The date that you entered military service must be earlier than the expiration date of your NYS driver license.

How to Renew Your Driver License: You can renew your driver license when there is an automatic military extension after you have filed form MV-75. Use the instructions to renew by mail.

If you did not file form MV-75, complete form MV-75 and send it with your renewal application.

Military Driver Licenses: If you have a driver license issued by the US Armed Forces, you can drive in NYS for a maximum of 60 days after you enter NYS. After 60 days, you must have a valid driver license to drive in NYS.

You must be a member of the US Armed Forces to use a military driver license in NYS. A dependant who has only a military driver license cannot drive in NYS.

You cannot exchange a military driver license for a New York State driver license. If you have only a military driver license, you must apply for an original NYS driver license. Learn how to apply for a NYS driver license.

Vision Correction
You can remove the corrective lenses restriction (B restriction) from your driver license after you have vision correction surgery.
By Mail: Your eye-care professional must complete form MV-619 (Eye Test Report). If the form MV-619 has a print date of 9/03 or earlier, the form is valid for 6 months after the date of the eye test.  If the form has a print date of 3/04 or later, the eye-care professional marks a box on the form to indicate if the form is valid for 6 months or for 12 months after the date of the eye test.  You must complete form MV-44. Mail the forms and the fee of $10 to your local DMV office.  The DMV mails your new photo driver license with the restriction removed in approximately three weeks.
At a local DMV Office: Complete form MV-44. Pass the vision test at the DMV office and pay the fee of $10.  The DMV office issues you a temporary driver license without a photo and with the restriction removed. The DMV mails your new photo driver license with the restriction removed in approximately three weeks.

Medical Conditions of a Driver and Accident Re-examination
The New York DMV considers each case of a possible medical condition separately. The DMV does not consider the age of a driver in these cases.
The DMV acts when it has information that a driver has a possible condition that can affect driving skills. NYS law and DMV procedures identify conditions that require a driver to take a re-examination.

Possible Medical Conditions
The DMV receives information about the possible conditions of a driver from many sources. Drivers can provide the information in answers about medical conditions on a driver license application or a renewal form. The DMV can receive information about medical conditions from an accident report, a physician’s report, a police report, a report by a member of the family of the driver, or from another citizen.

Physician’s Reports: If a physician reports a condition that can affect the driving skills of a patient, the DMV can suspend the driver license. The DMV suspends the driver license until a physician provides a certification that the condition is treated or controlled and does not affect driving skills. The DMV can require that the physician certify again in the future that the condition is controlled and not dangerous. If the DMV does not receive the required certification, the DMV can suspend the driver license until it receives the certification.
A physician can use form DS-6 (Physician’s Request for Driver Review) to report the condition to the DMV.  Only a licensed physician can use form DS-6.

Other Reports: If the DMV receives a report from a person who is not a physician, the DMV decides each case separately. The DMV can schedule a re-examination for the driver, or an evaluation interview with a license examiner.
After an evaluation interview, the license examiner can require that the driver take a re-examination or ask for other specific tests. The license examiner decides if a re-examination or specific tests are required.
A re-examination can include a vision test, a written test, a road test or two or more of these tests. If the driver does not appear for a re-examination or does not pass the tests, the DMV suspends or revokes the driver license.
To report possible medical conditions, complete form DS-7 (Request For Driver Review).  This form provides the only method to report a possible medical condition.  Make sure that you include all the required information and that you provide the details about the condition of the driver.  A notary public must observe that you sign the form and then must notarize the form. Send the original completed form to:
Driver Improvement Bureau
NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
6 Empire State Plaza
Room 220A
Albany, NY  12228
The New York DMV does not accept reports by e-mail or by telephone. The DMV decides the action to take or can decide to take no action.
Privacy. If a person uses the Freedom of Information Law to request a copy of the form that you filed, the DMV does not disclose your name or other information that identifies you. If the person who sends the report is a person who is in a position of authority, (for example, a physician or a police officer) the DMV does disclose the name of the person who sent the report.

Accident Re-examination Program
The New York DMV Accident Re-examination Program identifies those drivers who have a series of motor vehicle accidents. The DMV requires some drivers to take a re-examination. A re-examination normally includes a vision test, a written test, and a road test The DMV uses the following standards to identify drivers to participate in the Accident Re-examination Program:

• All drivers who have three accidents in a six-month period are notified to take a re-examination.
• All drivers who are between 25 and 65 years of age and who have three accidents in a period of six to nine months receive a "Re-examination Questionnaire." The DMV evaluates the answers to the questionnaire and decides if the driver must take a re-examination.
• All drivers who are under the age of 25 or who are over the age of 65 and who have three accidents in nine months are notified to take a re-examination.
• You are not required to complete the defensive driving course but can benefit from voluntarily completing a NY approved defensive driving course to reduce your points and/or benefit from insurance reduction. As of May 18, 2009 NYS DMV has approved online defensive driving courses

Actions Taken
If the driver does not appear for a re-examination or does not pass the required tests, the DMV suspends or revokes the driver license. If the driver does not appear for an evaluation interview or does not provide the required medical certification or re-certification, the DMV suspends the driver license until the driver complies with the requirements.