New York State DMV
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NYC Pedestrian and Cyclist Traffic Injuries Hit Five-Year High in 2013
Motorists injured more pedestrians and cyclists in New York City last year than in any of the previous five years, according to official 2013 data on traffic injuries and deaths released by the state DMV [PDF]. Confirming preliminary NYPD figures, the final DMV stats show total traffic injuries remained near the five-year low -- meaning pedestrians and cyclists accounted for a higher share of traffic violence victims on New York City streets in 2013 compared to recent years.
October 29, 2014
DMV Scrambles to Contain Scandal of Wrongful Bike Penalties
Last Friday, New York State DMV responded to mounting evidence that it has been systematically cheating cyclists by imposing motorist-only surcharges and license points for bicycling violations, contrary to state law. The problem was first brought to DMV’s attention on August 12, in a Streetsblog post. DMV admitted that it was violating the law and agreed to refund the improper surcharge to two cyclists, but did not indicate that it would do the same for other cyclists, or change its procedures going forward.
September 23, 2014
Cyclists Sue New York State DMV for Unlawful Ticket Penalties
New York City cyclists have filed a class action lawsuit against the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles for administering penalties for traffic violations that by law apply only to motorists.
September 17, 2014
New York Driver’s Ed Is a Joke
Want a driver's license? It's easy. Fill out some paperwork and pop on over to the DMV to take a 20-question test for your learner's permit. Then, get in some practice with a licensed driver. (But if you're over 18, you can just ignore that part!) Then sit through a five-hour course before taking a quick road test, like these people. Total cost: about $50 and a few hours. Once your license expires, you can renew it with a few clicks online.
September 15, 2014
Hoylman to New York State DMV: Stop Unlawfully Penalizing NYC Cyclists
State Senator Brad Hoylman is asking the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles to stop issuing improper fines and adding drivers license points for bicycling tickets.
September 4, 2014
New York State DMV Admits to Cheating Cyclists, But Doesn’t Say It Will Stop
The New York State DMV admits that it is incorrectly overcharging cyclists for traffic violations and wrongly adding points to their drivers licenses, but the agency hasn’t agreed to stop doing it.
August 20, 2014
DMV Cheating Cyclists With Unlawful Surcharges and License Points
As NYPD’s latest bike ticket blitz -- "Operation Safe Cycle" -- rolls into its second week, here at my law firm we’ve been getting more than the usual number of phone calls and emails from cyclists with questions about summonses. Usually the big question in these discussions is whether to plead guilty, not how to plead guilty. But now it appears that if you pay your fine online for a moving violation while cycling, you’ll probably be paying an $88 surcharge that you shouldn’t be, and getting points on your license that don’t belong there.
August 19, 2014
Bronx DWI Pedestrian Killer Gets 90 Days and Six-Month License Suspension
A judge sentenced a convicted drunk driver to just 90 days in jail and a six-month license suspension for killing a pedestrian in the Bronx.
April 2, 2014
Until Now, NYS DMV Shielded Driver Violation Histories From Prosecutors
Governor Cuomo announced this week that the state Department of Motor Vehicles will make additional traffic violation data available to prosecutors, but it's too soon to tell if the change will help make more cases against dangerous drivers.
March 5, 2014
Will the New York DMV Keep an Unlicensed Killer on the Road?
When a driver in New York loses his license, it's up to the state Department of Motor Vehicles to decide when, or if, he gets it back. Based on a recent hearing attended by Streetsblog, the DMV adjudication process at times relies primarily on testimony from drivers involved in fatal crashes, rather than police reports or other evidence.
February 28, 2014