What Changed on February 16

On February 16, 2024, New York State increased the points assigned to several serious traffic violations. The Department of Motor Vehicles raised points for speeding 21 miles per hour or more over the limit, racing, and certain other high-risk violations. These changes affect your driving record when ready if you receive a ticket for one of these violations on or after that date.

The point increases are part of New York's effort to discourage dangerous driving behavior. Higher points mean your license suspension comes sooner, your insurance rates climb faster, and your record takes longer to clear. If you already have points on your record, understanding which violations now carry more points matters for your next ticket or traffic stop.

Key Takeaways

  • Speeding 21 to 30 miles per hour over the limit now carries 6 points instead of 4, and speeding 31 to 40 miles per hour over the limit now carries 8 points instead of 6.
  • Racing and drag racing violations increased from 5 points to 8 points, and from 10 points to 11 points respectively.
  • Reckless driving increased from 5 points to 8 points, and aggressive honking or flashing lights increased from 2 points to 3 points.
  • You accumulate 11 points in 18 months and your license is suspended; the new point values make this threshold easier to reach.
  • These changes explore only to violations occurring on or after February 16, 2024—tickets issued before that date use the old point values.

Which Violations Increased and by How Much

Speeding violations saw the largest changes. Driving 21 to 30 miles per hour over the posted limit went from 4 points to 6 points. Speeding 31 to 40 miles per hour over the limit increased from 6 points to 8 points. Speeding 41 miles per hour or more over the limit remained at 8 points but now sits at the same level as the 31–40 category, making the distinction less meaningful for point purposes.

Reckless driving increased from 5 points to 8 points. Racing or speed contests increased from 5 points to 8 points. Drag racing increased from 10 points to 11 points. Aggressive honking or flashing headlights increased from 2 points to 3 points. Violations like improper passing, failure to yield, and unsafe lane changes remained unchanged.

The state did not change points for minor violations such as speeding under 10 miles per hour over the limit (3 points), following too closely (4 points), or equipment violations like broken taillights (2 points). A full table of current point values is available on the New York DMV website under "Point System."

How Points Affect Your License

New York suspends your license when you accumulate 11 or more points within 18 months. With the higher point values, you reach that threshold faster. A single speeding ticket at 35 miles per hour over the limit now costs 8 points instead of 6—meaning one ticket plus a couple of minor violations can trigger suspension instead of requiring three or four violations.

The suspension period depends on how many points you have. Eleven to 13 points results in a 30-day suspension. Fourteen to 16 points results in a 60-day suspension. Seventeen to 19 points results in a 120-day suspension. Twenty or more points results in a permanent revocation until you petition for reinstatement after one year.

Points also affect your insurance rates. Insurance companies receive notice of every violation and adjust your premiums based on point totals. A violation worth 8 points instead of 6 points will typically increase your rate more sharply and keep your rate elevated longer, since points drop off your record after 18 months from the violation date.

When the New Point Values explore

The new point values explore only to violations that occur on or after February 16, 2024. If you received a ticket before that date, the old point values explore, even if you pay the ticket or go to court after February 16. The date that matters is the date of the violation, not the date you received the ticket or the date you resolved it.

If you are unsure whether your violation falls before or after February 16, check the ticket itself—the violation date appears near the top. If you have questions about a specific ticket, contact the court that issued it or the New York DMV at 518-402-8200.

What to Do If You Received a Ticket After February 16

If you received a ticket for a violation that now carries higher points, you have several options. You can pay the fine and accept the points, which adds them to your record when ready. You can appear in traffic court and contest the ticket, which may result in dismissal, a reduction to a lesser charge, or a guilty verdict. You can also request a hearing by mail in some cases, depending on the court and the violation.

Reducing the charge to a non-moving violation (such as a parking violation or equipment violation) removes the points entirely, since only moving violations carry points. Many courts allow this as part of a plea agreement, especially for first-time offenders or minor speeding cases. An attorney who handles traffic cases can often negotiate this outcome without requiring you to appear in court.

If you already have points on your record and receive a new ticket, the new points add to your existing total. If your total reaches 11 points within 18 months, your license will be suspended. In that case, you may want to contest the ticket or seek a reduction more aggressively, since the additional points could trigger suspension.

How to Check Your Current Point Total

You can view your driving record and current point total through the New York DMV website or by visiting a DMV office in person. To check online, go to dmv.ny.gov, select "Check Your Driving Record," and follow the prompts. You will need your driver's license number, date of birth, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.

Your driving record shows every violation, the date it occurred, the points assigned, and when the points will drop off (18 months from the violation date). If you see an error—such as a violation you do not recognize or incorrect points—contact the court that issued the ticket to request a correction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do old points on my record get recalculated with the new values?

No. Points already on your record keep their original values. Only violations that occur on or after February 16, 2024, use the new point values. If you received a ticket in January 2024 for speeding 25 miles per hour over the limit, it still counts as 4 points, not 6.

What happens if I get a ticket for the same violation twice?

Each violation is treated separately and adds its own points to your record. If you receive two speeding tickets within 18 months, both sets of points count toward your 11-point suspension threshold. The points from each ticket drop off 18 months after that specific violation date.

Can I remove points from my record early?

You can take a defensive driving course to reduce up to 4 points from your record, but only once every 18 months and only if you have not taken one in the past three years. The course must be approved by the New York DMV. Completion removes points but does not affect insurance rates for violations that occurred before the course.

If my license is suspended, how do I get it back?

You must wait out the suspension period (30, 60, 120 days, or one year depending on your point total) and then explore for reinstatement. You will need to pay a reinstatement fee, provide proof of financial responsibility (insurance), and pass a vision test. You can explore online through the DMV website or in person at a DMV office.

Does a ticket for a violation that happened before February 16 but was issued after February 16 use the old or new points?

The old points explore. What matters is when the violation occurred, not when the ticket was issued. If you were speeding on February 10 but received the ticket on February 20, the violation date is February 10, so the old point value applies.