The New York Driver Responsibility Assessment

New York began its Driver Responsibility Program in 2004. The goal was to place an additional financial burden on drivers who accumulated a set number of points due to receiving specific New York traffic tickets.

You will have to pay the NY driver responsibility assessment if:

• You get 6 or more points in an 18 month period of time
• You get convicted of a drug- or alcohol-related traffic violation (e.g. DUI/DWI, etc.)
• A DMV hearing concludes that you refused to submit to a chemical test

However, a good traffic ticket attorney will be able to negotiate a favorable plea with the prosecutor, which can help you avoid paying this assessment entirely. The amount of money that the state imposes due to the driver responsibility program is quite large. It is crucial to understand that this assessment will be imposed against out-of-state drivers as well. In other words, anyone who drives in NY can potentially be subjected to this penalty.

How much Does the Driver Responsibility Assessment cost?

• If you get 6 points in 18 months, the assessment will be $100 per year for 3 years.
• If you get more than 6 points in 18 months, an additional $25 per year will be charged for each additional point you receive. This means 1 extra point will cost you $75 more (since the assessment lasts for 3 years).
• If you get convicted of a drug- or alcohol-related offense or you refuse to submit to a chemical test, the assessment will be $250 per year for 3 years.

Think about it: aside from getting points on your license, paying a fine, and dealing with an insurance hike, you could now face this additional cost if you get a NY traffic ticket.Ultimately, the small cost of hiring an experienced NY traffic ticket attorney is well worth avoiding these astronomical expenses.