Summary: If you receive a traffic ticket in New York but hold a driver's license from another state, do not assume your home state won't find out. Through the Driver License Compact, New York actively shares traffic conviction data with most of the country.
What is the Driver License Compact?
New York State has entered into a Driver License Compact (DLC) with several other states. The primary goals of this agreement are to:
- Promote Compliance: Ensure drivers adhere to the laws, ordinances, and administrative rules relating to the operation of motor vehicles in every jurisdiction where they drive.
- Make Reciprocal Recognition Fair: Create a just and equitable system for driver licensing by considering a driver's overall compliance with motor vehicle laws across all participating states before continuing or issuing any license.
Effect of a Traffic Conviction in Other States
Standard Traffic Infractions
If a person licensed to drive by one of the Compact states is convicted of a routine traffic infraction in New York, New York will report that conviction directly to the driver’s home state. How those points are applied depends on the home state's specific DMV rules.
Major Violations
If the conviction is for a serious offense—such as a DWI/DUI, manslaughter or negligent homicide, a felony involving a motor vehicle, or leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death or personal injury—the driver’s home state is required to treat that conviction exactly as if it happened in the home state. They will suspend or revoke the individual's driving privileges accordingly.
License Renewals and New Applications
If a driver applies for a new license in a compact state, that state will cross-reference the National Driver Register and DLC records. If the driver's license is suspended or revoked in any other state, the new state will generally deny the application.
Example: If New Jersey suspends your license, New York will not issue you a driver's license until the New Jersey suspension is cleared. We recently represented a driver living in Maryland who had an old, unresolved suspension in New York; we had to clear up the NY suspension before she was allowed to renew her license in Maryland.
The Impact on Car Insurance
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you should count on your insurance company finding out about all traffic convictions regardless of state borders. To control your insurance premiums, it is highly recommended that you fight to minimize every ticket. Never plead guilty by mail without fully understanding how the out-of-state conviction will transfer to your record.
Participating Driver License Compact States
The Driver License Compact States include:
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia (D.C.), Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
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Out-of-State Driver with a NY Ticket?
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