🚨 NYS Point System Changes: Safety Reform or a Cash Grab?
What Every New York Driver Needs to Know for 2026
New York State is quietly preparing one of the biggest changes to its driver-penalty system in years:
👉 Points will soon stay on your record for 24 months instead of 18.
That small change will have massive consequences for everyday drivers.
Why This Matters
When points stay active longer:
More tickets will overlap
More drivers hit the 6-point threshold that triggers the Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA)
More people inch closer and quicker to 11 points and suspension
Insurance companies get more justification to raise premiums
This is not a minor adjustment. It’s a structural shift that will affect millions.
Is This Really About Safety?
That’s the big question.
NYS says the change is intended to improve road safety. But consider:
Police enforcement is down due to staffing shortages
Speed cameras and red-light cameras (which don’t carry points) are at all-time highs
The DRA brings in huge revenue—and will now be triggered far more often
Much of the DRA money goes into the general budget, not directly to safety programs
It’s hard to ignore the fiscal motive.
Who Gets Hurt Most?
CDL drivers
Uber/Lyft/delivery drivers
Commuters with older points
Anyone who simply pays tickets instead of fighting them
With a 24-month window, even one extra minor ticket can cause major fallout.
Bottom Line
Whether it’s about safety or revenue, the reality is the same:
**Every point now matters more than ever.
Every ticket is worth fighting.**
If you have questions about the upcoming changes—or how to protect your license and insurance—I’m here to help.
