New DMV rules in NY could affect your license for 2 years

"The changes, introduced as part of Governor Kathy Hochul's broader push to crack down on dangerous driving, are designed to make it easier for the state to identify repeat offenders and pull risky drivers off the road. The big headline? Points will linger longer-and you'll need fewer of them to trigger a suspension review. Under the new rules, the suspension threshold drops from 11 points to 10, meaning the margin for error just got slimmer."

"At the same time, the DMV's "look-back" window is expanding from 18 months to a full 24 months, so tickets you picked up nearly two years ago could still come back to haunt you when your record is evaluated. The point values themselves are getting an upgrade, too. Alcohol- or drug-related incidents now carry 11 points, triggering an automatic suspension review, while passing a stopped school bus or speeding through a construction zone jumps to eight points."

"Even smaller infractions are seeing changes. Speeding just 1-10 mph over the limit now racks up more points than before and several once-overlooked violations, like certain equipment issues or obstructing traffic, may now contribute to your total faster than you'd expect. So what does this mean if you're navigating Midtown traffic or cruising upstate? In short, fewer tickets could add up to bigger consequences."

New York's DMV revised the point system effective Feb. 16, extending the look-back window from 18 to 24 months and lowering the suspension threshold from 11 to 10 points. Several serious offenses now carry higher point values, with alcohol- or drug-related incidents at 11 points and certain school bus or construction-zone violations at eight points. Aggravated Unlicensed Operation, reckless driving, illegal racing, and failure-to-exercise-due-care see increased penalties. Minor infractions, including 1-10 mph speeding, equipment issues, and obstructing traffic, can now add points more quickly. The combined effect increases the risk that fewer violations will trigger suspension review.

Read at Time Out New York