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You are currently viewing BRAKE CHECK Final week until new drivers are hit with $450 fines and 11 points on license under slew of new speed limit laws

BRAKE CHECK Final week until new drivers are hit with $450 fines and 11 points on license under slew of new speed limit laws

NEW speed limit laws with strict fines and point increases will come into effect next week.

Drivers going as little as 1mph over the speed limit could be hit with a steep fine.

Drivers can be hit with steep fines and increased points under a new system.Credit: WHEC

 

Traffic on a highway with a graphic overlay that reads "NEW DMV POINT SYSTEM ENFORCEABLE STARTING FEBRUARY 16".
The threshold for a driver’s license to be revoked will be lowerCredit: WHEC

The new law will also mean that point violations will stay on your license for longer.

Currently in New York State, accumulating 11 points within 18 months can lead to a license suspension.

Under the new rules effective February 16, accumulating 10 points within 24 months can lead to a license suspension.

“Every single conviction will stay in your life longer now and that’s going to have an impact in a variety of ways,” Aaron Pam, a senior associate at personal injury law firm Tully Rinckey, told NBC affiliate WHEC.

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“Construction zones are a particular new focus under the new law, even speeding one or two miles an hour over the limit in a construction zone, is an increased amount of points now.”

Drivers who accumulate seven points will face higher insurance premiums and have to attend a driver improvement program.

Alcohol or drug-related conviction or incident while driving can lead to an immediate suspension under the new point valuation.

Several infractions will now lead to a eight points on your license and a $450 fine.

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This includes passing a stopped school bus, speeding in a construction area, or going over the height of a bridge and striking it.

Other point valuations, such as for speeding and cell phone use, will remain the same.

New point valuations

The new point values will be effective February 16, 2026

  • Any alcohol or drug related conviction or incident
    • Old points for violation: 0
    • New points for violation: 11
    • Point increase: 11
  • Aggravate unlicensed operation
    • Old: 0
    • New: 11
    • Increase: 11
  • Overtaking/passing a stopped school bus
    • Old: 5
    • New: 8
    • Increase: 3
  • Speeding in a construction zone
    • Old: based on speed
    • New: 8
  • Over-height vehicle/bridge strike
    • Old: 0
    • New: 8
    • Increase: 8
  • Leaving the scene of a personal injury crash
    • Old: 3
    • New: 5
    • Increase: 2
  • Facilitating aggravated unlicensed operation
    • Old: 0
    • New: 5
    • Increase: 5
  • Failure to exercise due care
    • Old: 2
    • New 5
    • Increase: 3
  • Speed contests and races
    • Old: 0
    • New: 5
    • Increase: 5

“These updated regulations will have no impact on drivers who follow the rules of the road, but they will have a big impact on dangerous drivers and repeat offenders whose poor choices always put other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians at risk,” DMV commissioner Mark Shroeder told WHEC.

The changes were first outlined under Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2023 “Achieving the New York Dream” agenda.

The proposal was introduced in 2024 and signed into law later that year.

Local drivers told WHEC that they had no issue with the steeper point assignation.

“If you have a problem with this, then you probably need to change the way you drive because at the end of the day, they’re looking at safety,” said Warren Meeks Jr.

“I don’t personally have a problem with that because I’m a pretty decent driver, I just think it would be challenging for some folks but we just have to be mindful to make laws fair and consistent,” said Willie Robinson.

CREDIT: The U.S. Sun   Grace Harrington