The roads in New York are about to become a lot less forgiving for those with a heavy foot. Starting in February 2026, the state is implementing a sweeping overhaul of its traffic penalty system. While the current rules have been in place for years, the upcoming changes aim to significantly lower the tolerance for risky driving. The most striking update involves a potential crackdown on drivers exceeding the limit by as little as 1 mph, alongside a total restructuring of the points assigned to various traffic violations.
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Why the New York Point System is Getting Harder
State officials have authorized these changes to curb the rising trend of dangerous driving across the state. Under the new framework, the threshold for a license suspension is being tightened. Previously, a driver could accumulate 11 points within an 18 month window before facing a suspension review. Starting next month, that limit drops to 10 points. To make matters even more challenging for motorists, the state is extending the look back period to 24 months, meaning violations will haunt your record for a longer duration than they do now.
Major Changes to Speeding and Cell Phone Use
The penalty for speeding between 1 and 10 mph over the limit is officially set to rise from 3 points to 4 points. While many drivers historically believed there was a small buffer zone, the new policy emphasizes that every mile counts. Distracted driving is also under fire. Using a handheld cell phone while operating a vehicle will now result in 6 points on your license, up from the current 5 points. This means just two cell phone violations within two years could put a driver at the limit for a license suspension.
Higher Penalties for School Bus and Pedestrian Safety
Protecting vulnerable road users is a core pillar of the 2026 updates. Passing a stopped school bus or engaging in reckless driving will now carry a massive 8 point penalty, a jump from the current 5 points. Failing to yield to a pedestrian is also seeing a significant increase, moving from a 3 point violation to 5 points. These adjustments reflect a zero tolerance approach to behaviors that put children and pedestrians at high risk.
| Violation Type | Current Points (Through Jan 2026) | New Points (Starting Feb 2026) |
| Speeding (1 to 10 mph over) | 3 | 4 |
| Using a Cell Phone while Driving | 5 | 6 |
| Failing to Yield to a Pedestrian | 3 | 5 |
| Passing a Stopped School Bus | 5 | 8 |
| Reckless Driving | 5 | 8 |
| Illegal U-Turns | 0 | 2 |
| Obstructing Traffic | 0 | 2 |
| Equipment Violations | 0 | 1 |
Essential Rules for New York Motorists
- The look back period for accumulating points is increasing from 18 months to 24 months.
- Equipment violations like broken lights will now add 1 point to your record.
- Failing to move over for emergency vehicles will result in 3 points.
- Drivers with 7 to 10 points will be required to attend a mandatory Driver Improvement Clinic.
- Mandatory Driver Responsibility Assessment fees remain in place for anyone reaching 6 points.
