Imagine that you are driving down the New York Thruway and, suddenly, you see a state trooper pulling behind you with the flashing lights on. Your speedometer reads 70mph, and you know that there is little benefit to pleading for mercy when you get pulled over. A little more than a year later, the same thing happens and you are pulled over for speeding at 70mph. You plead guilty to both tickets and pay the fines. In this example, it would be wise to quickly contact a traffic violations attorney in New York, because your driver’s license is suspended according to the New York Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) point system.
The New York DMV scoreboard
The DMV places points on your license for certain traffic violation convictions, to identify dangerous drivers. The DMV characterizes someone who commits several NY traffic violations in a short time as a dangerous driver. If you accumulate more than 11 points or receive three traffic tickets in 18 months, your license is suspended.
The following is the DMV point system scoreboard:
| Violations | Points |
| Speeding 1-10 MPH | 3 |
| Speeding 11-20 MPH | 4 |
| Speeding 21-30 MPH | 6 |
| Speeding 31-40 MPH | 8 |
| Speeding more than 40 MPH | 11 |
| Reckless Driving | 5 |
| Failure to stop for school bus | 5 |
| Inadequate brakes | 4 |
| Following too closely | 4 |
| Improper lane changing, passing or driving left of center or the wrong way | 3 |
| Violation of a traffic signal, stop sign or Yield sign | 3 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way | 3 |
| Leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage or injury to a domestic animal | 3 |
| Railroad crossing violation | 3 |
| Using a hand-held cell phone while driving | 5 |
A driver’s point total is based on the points accumulated in the past 18 months.
Reducing your point total
The Point & Insurance Reduction Program (PIRP) allows drivers to reduce their DMV point total by completing a course offered by private companies approved by the DMV. Completing an approved PIRP course enables you to:
- Refresh your safe-driving skills and knowledge.
- Deduct up to four points on your driving record.
- Receive a minimum 10% reduction in auto insurance.
PIRP participation does not remove a traffic offense from your record. Instead, it reduces as many as four points from your DMV total. A New York traffic court attorney can help negotiate your enrollment in PIRP while resolving a NY traffic ticket.
Work with a Buffalo traffic attorney who serves western New York
If you received a traffic ticket, call Arthur L. Pressman, Attorney at Law before pleading guilty and paying the fine. An experienced New York traffic attorney can negotiate lesser charges, resulting in fewer points on your license. Call 716-984-1795 for experienced legal representation in DWI, criminal matters or traffic tickets.
