The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles imposes monetary penalties, aside from any fines incurred in Court, that must be paid by motorists that have been convicted of alcohol and/or drug related traffic offenses as well as motorists that have accumulated an excessive number of points on their driving records for moving violations.
The Driver Responsibility Assessment applies to motorists in any of the following occurrences:
- a New York State conviction for an alcohol-related traffic offense, such as a DWI or DWAI.
- a New York State conviction for a drug-related traffic offense, such as Driving While Impaired by Drugs.
- a New York State finding at a DMV Hearing that a motorist refused to submit to a chemical test after a New York arrest for an alcohol and/or drug related traffic offense.
- for an accumulation of six or more points within eighteen months for moving violations, such as speeding, red light, stop sign, etc., that occurred in New York, Ontario or Quebec.
The monetary penalties for the Driver Responsibility Assessment Program are as follows:
- for an alcohol and/or drug related traffic offense or for a refusal to submit to a chemical test, the DMV will assess an annual payment of $250. This amount is payable each year for three years and a failure to pay will result in driving privileges being suspended.
- for an accumulation of six or more points within eighteen months, the DMV will assess an annual payment of $100, plus $25 for each additional point in that eighteen month period. The sum is payable for each year and a failure to pay will result in driving privileges being suspended.
Many of the above-mentioned convictions also carry suspended or revoked driver’s license sanctions. Additionally, participation in a defensive driving class, that will reduce point totals on overall DMV records, will have no effect on reducing the monetary assessment penalties associated with the Driver Responsibility Assessment Program. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Randy Alpert.