Whether you are visiting family or planning your next vacation, it is crucial to understand the ramifications of an out-of-state traffic ticket. Depending on the state you are licensed in, points could be added onto your driving record and you might even have your driving privileges suspended.
The following information is designed to help you better understand the effects of out-of-state traffic tickets. as they apply in Nevada and New York.
Both New York and Nevada signed the Driver’s License Compact. This means NY and NV freely share driver information with one another. If you receive a New York traffic ticket but are a NV driver, NV will be notified about the ticket you received. This also applies if you are licensed in NY and get a ticket in NV.
For all minor out-of-state traffic offenses, Nevada will not add points onto your driver’s license. This means you can receive a NY speeding ticket and not a single point will be put on your NV driving record. However, if you commit a major out-of-state traffic offense (e.g. DWI/DUI, negligent homicide, serious cases of reckless driving, etc.), any points that your home state would normally dole out for the offense will be put on your driving record.
Nevertheless, even if points are not tacked onto your license, you still face serious consequences.
After all, the traffic violation will be put on your driving record, serves as a red flag whenever you get pulled over in or out of NV, can cause your insurance rate to increase, and may compel you to pay a fine.
If you have a New York driver’s license and receive a Nevada traffic ticket, in most cases, New York will not 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.”
Nevertheless, 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 Nevada, points will not be added onto your New York driver’s license.
However, as we noted before, your insurance carrier will have the ability to raise your insurance rates due to the violation you committed.
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 New York point system, not your home state’s point system. Thus, if you are found guilty of speeding 41 miles over the posted speed limit or get convicted 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 duration 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 NV and NY are both members of the Driver’s License Compact, NV will honor the “suspension” of your New York driving privileges even though it will not take away your ability to drive elsewhere.
Furthermore, if you receive a NY traffic ticket for an offense or set of offenses that amounts to 6 or more points under New York’s Point System, you will also be required to pay a Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA).
This applies regardless of whether you are an out-of-state driver or licensed in NY. 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.
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.
AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI DC WY