Whether you are visiting the Statue of Liberty or the Liberty Bell, it is crucial to understand what happens if you receive an out-of-state traffic ticket.
Although many of the rules in PA and NY are quite similar, you ought to be aware of where they diverge and what can happen to your driving privileges upon receiving an out-of-state traffic ticket.
Points between NY and PA - Driver’s License Compact
Both New York and Pennsylvania have signed onto the Driver’s License Compact. This means NY and PA freely share driver information with one another.
If you receive a NY traffic ticket but are a PA driver, contrary to popular belief, PA will be notified about the ticket you received. This also applies if you are licensed in NY and got a ticket in PA.
Pennsylvania Drivers
For all minor out-of-state traffic ticket offenses, PA will not add points onto your license.
This means you can receive a NY speeding ticket and no points will be put onto your PA driving record.
However, if your PA insurance carrier finds out about the offense, they can raise your auto insurance rates.
In addition, if you commit a serious traffic offense outside of PA, your driving privileges could be suspended.
Examples of serious offenses are DUI/DWI, fleeing the scene of an accident that results in serious personal injury or death, and negligent homicide due to improper operation of an automobile.
Likewise, if you are CDL holder (i.e. commercial driver’s license), points will be assessed on your PA driver’s license for all out-of-state violations—regardless of how minor or major.
Note that if you accrue 11 points, three speeding, or two work zone speeding violations within 18 months, your NY driving privileges will be suspended even though you are a PA driver. That suspension may transfer to PA which can, in turn, suspend your PA license.
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New York Drivers
New York handles things relatively similarly. If you have a New York driver’s license and receive a Pennsylvania 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.”
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 27 miles over the posted speed limit in Pennsylvania, not a single point will 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 (and it will likely know that this offense would have been worth 5 points if you were licensed in PA).
This point about insurance hikes is also applicable if you are PA driver ticketed in NY.
Fines
Remember, no state can require you to pay a double fine. In other words, you will only be required to pay the state in which you received the ticket.
If you got a NY traffic ticket, you will pay the State of New York. If you got a PA traffic ticket, you will pay the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Key Distinctions
If you are a Pennsylvania driver and you are caught speeding, the following point schedule will be used:
- Speeding 6-10 MPH Over Speed Limit: 2 Points
- Speeding 11-15 MPH Over Speed Limit: 3 Points
- Speeding 16-25 MPH Over Speed Limit: 4 Points
- Speeding 26-30 MPH Over Speed Limit: 5 Points
- Speeding 31 or More MPH Over Speed Limit: 5 Points (Including Sanctions and a Departmental Hearing)
However, New York’s speeding point schedule is broken down a little differently:
- Speeding 1-10 MPH Over Speed Limit: 3 Points
- Speeding 11-20 MPH Over Speed Limit: 4 Points
- Speeding 21-30 MPH Over Speed Limit: 6 Points
- Speeding 31-40 MPH Over Speed Limit: 8 Points
- Speeding 41 or More MPH Over Speed Limit: 11 Points
Also, if you are caught speeding in an active work zone in PA, your PA license will be suspended for 15 days. However, in NY, speeding in a work zone is usually treated the same as speeding anywhere else in the state.
Lastly, speeding 1-5 miles over the posted speed limit is not considered a traffic offense in PA. However, in NY, you could have 3 points added onto your license for doing so.
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.
Who Should You Contact?
If you recently received a New York traffic ticket, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-883-5529.
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