Speeding Ticket Attorney in New York

New York’s Speeding Points & Driver Responsibility Assessment

New York assigns points to your license based on how far over the posted speed limit you were clocked. The numbers climb quickly.

Point values by speed over the limit:

• 1 to 10 mph over: 3 points
• 11 to 20 mph over: 4 points
• 21 to 30 mph over: 6 points
• 31 to 40 mph over: 8 points
• More than 40 mph over: 11 points

Accumulate 11 or more points within any 24-month period and the DMV may suspend your license. Reaching 6 points within an 18-month window triggers the Driver Responsibility Assessment, a mandatory fee paid directly to the state: $100 per year for three years on the first 6 points ($300 total), plus $25 per year for each point beyond 6 ($75 per additional point). That’s a significant cost on top of whatever fine the court imposes.

Completing a DMV-approved Point and Insurance Reduction Program course can reduce the total points counted toward a suspension by up to 4, but the underlying points stay on your driving record and still count toward the Driver Responsibility Assessment threshold.

Camera Tickets vs. Officer-Issued Speeding Tickets in NYC

New York City’s default speed limit on streets without a posted sign is 25 mph, adopted citywide in November 2014 under the Vision Zero initiative. The city also operates school-zone speed cameras that issue civil fines to the registered owner of a vehicle caught exceeding the posted limit by more than 10 mph. Camera tickets carry a fine but don’t add points to a license.

An officer-issued speeding ticket is a different matter entirely. It can result in DMV points, increased insurance premiums, and license suspension risk. If a uniformed officer handed you the ticket, the stakes are higher, and the case needs a defense.