By the Ticket Dismissal HQ editorial teamReviewed Oct 20, 2026Sources cited at the endNot legal advice
New York overhauled its driver point system on February 16, 2026. Points now count for 24 months from the violation date (up from 18), a suspension review is triggered at 10 points (down from 11), and several violations carry more points than before. A single speeding ticket at 40+ mph over (11 points) now crosses the line on its own. Here’s the current schedule, what each threshold means, and how to bring your count down.
Quick answer
- Suspension: 10 points within 24 months triggers DMV review and possible suspension.
- How long points count: 24 months from the violation date (for convictions under the 2026 rules).
- How long violations stay on your record: generally the year of conviction plus 3 more years (longer for alcohol- and drug-related offenses), even after the points stop counting.
- Speeding: 3, 4, 6, 8 or 11 points depending on mph over; 8 points flat in a work zone.
- Reduce: the PIRP course excludes up to 4 points, once every 18 months.
Points by violation (2026 schedule)
| Violation | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding 1–10 mph over | 3 |
| Speeding 11–20 mph over | 4 |
| Speeding 21–30 mph over | 6 |
| Speeding 31–40 mph over | 8 |
| Speeding 40+ mph over | 11 |
| Speeding in a work zone | 8 (new in 2026) |
| Alcohol- or drug-related conviction | 11 (new in 2026) |
| Aggravated unlicensed operation | 11 (new in 2026) |
| Passing a stopped school bus | 8 (was 5) |
| Over-height vehicle / bridge strike | 8 (new in 2026) |
| Reckless driving | 5 |
| Handheld phone / texting | 5 |
| Speed contest | 5 (new in 2026) |
| Failure to exercise due care | 5 (was 2) |
| Leaving the scene, personal injury | 5 (was 3) |
| Tailgating; inadequate brakes | 4 |
| Failure to yield; improper passing or lane use; red light; stop sign | 3 |
| Child under 16 not restrained | 3 |
| Other moving violations | 2 |
| Equipment, parking, camera tickets | 0 |
Some published summaries of the 2026 changes list different speeding values (for example, 4 points for 1–10 over). The schedule above reflects the version most DMV-approved providers report; check the DMV’s own chart at dmv.ny.gov for any ticket you’re deciding on.
How long do points stay on your license in NY?
Two different clocks run. For suspension, points count for 24 months from the date of the violation (for convictions under the 2026 rules; older convictions were counted over 18 months). For your driving record, the conviction itself stays visible much longer, generally through the end of the year it was entered plus three more years, and insurers can see it the whole time. So a ticket can stop threatening your license and still affect your premium.
Driver Responsibility Assessment
Accumulate 6 or more points and the DMV bills a Driver Responsibility Assessment every year for three years: $100 a year at 6 points, plus $25 a year for each additional point (so 8 points is $150 a year, $450 total). Alcohol- and drug-related convictions carry a separate $250 a year for three years. The PIRP course does not reduce or cancel a DRA. Some sources still describe the DRA window as 18 months after the 2026 changes; confirm with DMV if you’re near 6 points.
How to bring your points down
- Take PIRP: up to 4 points excluded from the suspension count, once every 18 months, plus the mandatory 10% insurance discount. How it works.
- Outside NYC, ask for a reduced charge: town and village court prosecutors commonly offer a plea to a lower speed or to a non-moving violation such as VTL 1201(a) “parking on pavement” (0 points). This isn’t available at the NYC Traffic Violations Bureau.
- Wait it out: points drop out of the suspension count 24 months after the violation date.
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Frequently asked questions
How many points is a speeding ticket in NY?
3 points for 1–10 mph over, 4 for 11–20, 6 for 21–30, 8 for 31–40, 11 for more than 40 over, and 8 in a work zone.
How many points before your license is suspended in NY?
Since February 16, 2026, 10 points within 24 months triggers a suspension review. It was 11 within 18 months before.
Do out-of-state tickets add points in NY?
Out-of-state moving violations generally don’t add points to a New York license, except for certain serious offenses and violations in Ontario and Quebec, but they can be reported and affect insurance.
Do camera tickets add points in NY?
No. Red-light, speed and bus-lane camera tickets are issued to the vehicle owner and carry no points.
Sources: NYS DMV point system and Driver Responsibility Assessment information; 2026 amendments (effective February 16, 2026) as summarized by DMV-approved providers and NY traffic attorneys. Point values and windows are being updated across official materials; confirm at dmv.ny.gov.