New York Guide on Suspension Termination Fee
You should know a few things if your license has been suspended in New York. With the right information, you may be able to avoid having your suspension recorded on your record.
Types of License Suspension
A driver's license suspension means that your driver's license and driving privilege have been revoked for some time, and you must wait for it to be reinstated. There are two types of license suspensions, and both are based on the nature of the offense.
Indefinite Suspension
This means that your license will be suspended indefinitely until you take further action to restore it. This usually happens as a result of the following:
Failure to Attend Court
If you ignore court summonses, your license will be indefinitely suspended. In addition to having your license suspended, failing to respond to a summons may result in the court issuing an arrest warrant. When you return from an overseas trip, you may be completely taken aback when you are arrested at the airport long after the incident has passed you by. You can also be arrested if you are stopped for a minor traffic violation. Do not disregard the summons.
Lapses in your Car Insurance
If the insurance company informs DMV that the policy has lapsed and the license plates have not been turned in, DMV will suspend the vehicle. With the availability of two-year vehicle registrations, this has become an all-too-common occurrence, as many vehicle owners cancel the insurance policy of a vehicle that is no longer in use while the registration is still valid. The DMV will calculate the suspension starting from the date the policy was canceled. Suspension for non-payment of insurance only affects the mandatory liability portion of the policy, not the comprehensive portion. Ensure that any vehicle that will be uninsured and off the road for an extended period has its plates returned.
Failure to Report an Accident
If you are involved in an accident that results in property damage of more than
$1,001, you must report it to the Report of Motor Vehicle Accident (
Form MV-104) within 10 days of the incident. The DMV has the authority to suspend your license and vehicle if you do not comply.
Failure to Pay a Traffic Violation
This will apply to both in-state and out-of-state drivers. If you live outside of New York and plead guilty to a traffic violation in New York, your driving privilege will be suspended if you do not pay the fine, and it will remain suspended until you do. Alternatively, suppose you receive a moving violation in another state and do not pay the ticket. In that case, your New York driver's license will be suspended, except for Montana, Oregon, Wisconsin, Alaska, California, and Michigan. Keep in mind that each unpaid ticket will result in a suspension, leading to multiple suspensions and multiple lift fees to pay to get your license back.
Failure to Pay Child Support
Child support violators face license restrictions in all 50 states, including indefinite license suspension. Only about half of all non-custodial parents in the United States pay full child support to the custodial parent each month. The amount of child support owed before the license is suspended and the length of time the license has been suspended varies by state. In New York, if a non-custodial parent fails to pay four months' worth of child support, their NY driver's license will be suspended.
Definite Suspension
A definite suspension has a distinct start and end date. Unless you broke the New York State
Zero Tolerance Alcohol Law, which requires a
$100 fee, the suspension termination fee is $50. The following are some of the most common reasons for a permanent suspension:
Driving Under Probation
When two or more moving violations, or a single more serious offense, such as speeding, tailgating, or texting while driving, occur, the suspension is typically issued. Typically, the suspension lasts 60 days.
Too Many Points
In New York, your driving privileges will be suspended after accumulating 11 points or three speeding tickets within 18 months. The 18-month period will begin when the first violation occurs, not when you are found or plead guilty. In some cases, taking a defensive driving course can reduce your points by up to four, allowing you to avoid suspension. It can also help you save 10% on your insurance premiums.
DWAI or DWI
Age, substance, type of license, and whether or not you agreed to chemical testing will all affect the penalties and length of your license suspension. DWAI occurs when your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is
between 0.05 and 0.08 percent. DWI is defined as a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of more than 0.08 percent.
The Suspension Termination Fee
The suspension termination fee is the most notable fee associated with a suspended license in New York. The nature of your conviction determines this fee and the type of suspension the court determines is appropriate for the offense.
You must pay
$50 if you are convicted of a violation that results in a permanent suspension. You would have to pay
$100 if the suspension was due to violating the state's Zero Tolerance law.
Additional civil penalties may be imposed for a few violations. These have no bearing on your driver's license suspension, but they frequently coincide. If you do not pay these fines, your driver's license may be suspended until you do.
A fine or fee is rarely required to lift an indefinite suspension. However, your vehicle may require far more than
$50 in repairs, modifications, or other alterations.
If your license is suspended due to a lack of insurance, you will be unable to pay the suspension termination fee. You will have to purchase insurance instead. Insurance costs far more than
$50 per year.
Online
Your suspension termination fee can be paid online. To pay a definite suspension fee online, you must provide the following information:
- Your name or your DMV ID Number (Client ID Number) from your New York State driver's license, learner permit, or non-driver photo ID card
- Your gender and date of birth
- Your Social Security Number's last four digits
- On DMV records, your name and address must be correct.
Your payment does not guarantee that you will be able to reclaim your license. Other issues may affect the process, so check to see if your driver's license is still valid before getting behind the wheel. You must still go to your DMV office to get your license back if you have a conditional, restricted, or commercial driver's license and pay your suspension termination fee online.
In-Person
Your office(s) location will be specified in your suspension notice (s).
By Mail
You can pay by mail in some cases. This will be indicated on the notice.
FAQs About License Suspension in New York
Is There A Penalty In NYC For Driving With A Suspended License?
Avoiding a suspension in New York is critical because it keeps you on the road and allows you to keep your insurance rates low. A single suspension on your record can result in a 36-month increase in your insurance rates.
What legal repercussions can I expect if I drive while my driver's license is suspended?
In New York, driving with a suspended driver's license or privilege is known as aggravated unlicensed. Incarceration and fines are possible penalties. In many cases, however, no jail time is imposed.
What happens if I drive in another state while my New York driver's license is suspended?
The majority of states will comply with a New York suspension. As a result, if you are caught driving outside of New York with a suspended license or privilege to drive, you will be subject to the laws of that state.
What is the best way to see if my driver's license has been suspended?
You can create a
MyDMV account. You'll need your driver's license information and your social security number's last four digits. You can also check the status of your driver's license at any DMV location in your area.
How much does it cost to reinstate a suspended driver's license after it has been suspended?
The fee for ending a suspension is
$50 (subject to change by law). The fee is increased to
$100 if your driver's license was suspended for violating New York's Zero Tolerance law. You can either pay for one online or in-person at a DMV office. There is a fee for each suspension that needs to be lifted.
How will I obtain a new driver's license once my old one has been reinstated?
It would be best to wait three business days after the suspension period ends after paying your suspension termination fee. The DMV website can then be used to check the status of your new license's mailing. However, if you have a conditional or restricted license, you must obtain a new one from a DMV office.
