New York DMV Is Changing Driver Points System in 2026

No matter how much pride the people of the Great State of New York take in our little corner of the country, the powers that be in Albany always seem to find a way to want to make things harder for the average, everyday Empire State resident.

If it's not the ongoing efforts to ban the use of fossil fuels to propel our cars or keep us warm in the winter, it's the ever-increasing amount of taxes and fees we have to pay just to get by on a daily basis.

Not only is the Empire State good at banning things, but it is also pretty good at digging in our pockets. And, unless something changes real soon at the Capitol, state officials will have another way to take your hard-earned money.

New York DMV Is Changing The Driver Points System in 2026

Like most states in the country, if you get a certain type of traffic tickets, you are subject to being charged points on your license. Each type of infraction has a predetermined point penalty attached to it, and after so many points, the government takes further punishment against you and takes away your legal ability to drive a vehicle.

New York State, which currently issues points and surcharges when you are convicted of some traffic law violations, is expanding the violations you can get points for and making the points stay on your license for longer than just about anywhere else in the country.

Get Ready For New York To Be Stricter Against Its Drivers

Starting in February 2026, you can have your license suspended if you get 10 points within a 24-month period; as of now, it's 11 points in an 18-month period. If that's not enough, there are a lot more things changing:

• Speeding in all categories has increased points,
  • speeding less than 10 MPH over the limit is now 4 points, it used to be 3,
• Cell Phone Use While Driving is now 6 points; it used to be 5,
• Not yielding to pedestrians is now 5 points; it used to be 3,
• Driving recklessly is now 8 points; it used to be 5,
• Following too closely to another vehicle is now 5 points; it used to be 4,
• Alcohol related crimes now start at 8 points.

That's not all, several violations didn't have a point penalty attached to them, but now they will have them:

• Equipment violation that you used to get a 'fix it ticket' for now carries points,
  • Broken taillights or headlights are now 1 point each,
  • Illegally tinted windows are now 1 point each,
• Making an illegal U-turn is now 2 points,
• Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle is now 3 points,
• and more.

While the Governor said that this is an effort to make the roads safer, many think it's another step in the wrong direction for New York. What do you think? Do these new and stricter points make New York better?