If you find yourself driving from New York to Connecticut or vice versa, there are a few things you need to be aware of when it comes to out-of-state traffic tickets. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the following information before you take your next vacation.
Both New York and Connecticut have signed onto the Driver’s License Compact. This means NY and CT freely share driver information with one another.
If you receive a NY traffic ticket but are a CT driver, CT will be notified about the ticket you received. This also applies if you are licensed in NY and got a ticket in CT.
Of all of the states in the nation, CT is one of the most confusing when it comes to assessing points against your license for out-of-state traffic offenses.
The Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicle asks the question in its online FAQ, but provides an exceptional vague response:
“[Q:] I received a ticket out of state. What happens to my CT license? [A:] Please contact our Operator’s License Suspension Telephone Center at 860-263-5720.”
(http://www.ct.gov/dmv/cwp/view.asp?a=801&Q=244514&dmvPNavCtr=|&dmvNavPage)
Nevertheless, after much digging, we have found that Connecticut will not usually assess points against your CT driver’s license for out-of-state traffic offenses. However, if you fail to respond to the out-of-state traffic ticket, Connecticut will immediately suspend your driver’s license.
Remember, although points will not be assessed against you for most out-of-state violations, the offenses can show up on your driving record.
New York handles out-of-state traffic tickets. similarly.
If you have a New York driver’s license and receive a Connecticut traffic ticket, New York will not typically add points onto your driver’s license.
According to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, “The NYSDMV does not record out-of-state violations committed by NYS drivers in other jurisdictions.” Nonetheless, NY makes exceptions for alcohol-related violations, drug-related violations, and moving violations committed in Quebec or Ontario. As such, if you are caught speeding in Connecticut, points will not be added onto your New York driver’s license. However, your insurance carrier will have the ability to raise your insurance rates due to the violation you committed.
Do not forget, this point about insurance is also applicable if you are a CT license holder and get ticketed in NY.
If you are an out-of-state driver and accrue 11 points or more, you will lose your New York driving privileges.
This accumulation of 11 points will be determined based on the NY point system, not your home state’s point system. Therefore, if you are caught speeding 41 miles over the posted speed limit or get cited twice for speeding 21-30 miles over the limit, you will no longer be allowed to drive in the State of New York for a specified period of time.
Remember, your driver’s license will not be suspended by your home state and NY does not have the authority to suspend an out-of-state driver’s license. However, since CT and NY are both members of the Driver’s License Compact, CT will honor the“suspension” of your New York driving privileges even though it will not take away your ability to drive elsewhere.
As noted above, the only time CT will suspend your CT driver’s license when it comes to out-of-state traffic tickets is if you fail to respond to one.
Never forget, no state can require you to pay a double fine and you will only be required to pay the state in which you received the ticket.
As such, if you got a NY traffic ticket, you will pay the State of New York. If you got a CT traffic ticket, you will pay the State of Connecticut. Although it might be tempting to simply plead guilty and pay the fine, doing so will not make these negative consequences go away. In fact, the conviction is the very thing that brings most of them on.
If you recently received a New York traffic ticket, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-883-5529.
If you are a New York driver and you received a traffic ticket in Connecticut we suggest that you contact one of the law firms listed below:
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