A "Driver Responsibility Assessment" (DRA) is a monetary penalty imposed by the New York State DMV on drivers with certain convictions. The DMV will mail the bill for this assessment to your home after your case has been concluded, and it must be paid in addition to fines, surcharges, and other penalties from the courts.
1. Alcohol or Drug Related Convictions
The DMV will send you a DRA bill if any of the following occur:
- A driver is convicted of an alcohol-related violation.
- A driver is convicted of a drug-related violation.
- A DMV hearing determines a driver refused a drug or sobriety test.
For any of the above alcohol or drug-related offenses, the assessment is $750.
2. Traffic Ticket Convictions: 6 Points or More in 18 Months
For most drivers, points arising from traffic ticket convictions are the most common way to receive this assessment.
For accumulating 6 points in an 18-month period, the assessment will be $300. For every point over 6, there will be an additional charge of $75 per point.
Sample Calculation
Accumulating 8 points in 18 months—be it from one speeding ticket, or from several smaller tickets—will cost you $450. That's $300 for the first 6 points and $150 for the other 2 ($75 x 2).
Payment Warning: The DMV will allow you to pay this bill over a three-year period. However, we advise paying it all at once if possible. A missed payment (e.g., by moving and forgetting to inform the DMV, or having mail trouble) will cause a license suspension, which in turn can cause a misdemeanor charge called Aggravated Unlicensed Operation.
3. An Unwelcome Surprise
One common scenario we see is when a driver pleads guilty to a speeding ticket for 86 mph in a 65 mph zone or similar. Speeding 21 - 30 miles per hour over the posted limit is an automatic 6 points and instantly triggers the penalty. These drivers call to see if we can reverse the conviction, remove the assessment, and negotiate a reduction. This is sometimes possible.
4. Applies to All Drivers on New York Roads
The New York DMV will impose the assessment regardless of where the driver is licensed. Be it in New York, Ohio, or Ontario, the DMV will send the bill and suspend your New York driving privileges if it goes unpaid.
5. Never Plead Guilty, Call a Lawyer
The best course of action is to never plead guilty to a traffic ticket without consulting an attorney to discover all the possible consequences. We have helped thousands of drivers with their tickets and we invite your call to discuss yours.
If you have already pleaded guilty and you are now facing a Driver Responsibility Assessment, we may still be able to help you. It may be possible to reopen the case and negotiate a reduction with a formal motion to the court (a motion coram nobis).
Facing a Driver Responsibility Assessment?
Please feel free to contact us to discuss removing a conviction that has caused an assessment or to find out how the assessment might apply to you. All consultations are complimentary.