What's happening
This bill authorizes the suspension or denial of driver's licenses for individuals with outstanding arrest, bench, or superior court warrants.
Why it matters
Links Driving Privileges to Court Compliance. By allowing license suspension or denial for outstanding warrants, the bill creates a direct consequence for individuals who fail to resolve their legal obligations, potentially increasing pressure to address pending legal issues.
Immediate and Automated Enforcement. The law requires the DMV to establish a system for instantly checking for outstanding warrants during license application or renewal, making enforcement more systematic and less reliant on manual processes.
Statewide Data Integration. The bill encourages the Division of Criminal Justice Services to explore making all outstanding warrants accessible via computer networks, which could improve communication between law enforcement, courts, and the DMV, but also raises questions about data accuracy and privacy.
Restoration Pathway and Notice Requirements. Individuals are given a 90-day window to resolve warrants after being notified, and their license can be reinstated once proof is provided that the warrant was recalled—potentially helping people regain driving privileges quickly if they resolve their legal issues.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Suspend Licenses for Warrants
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
179
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 4, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GANTT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to authorizing the commissioner of motor vehicles to suspend a person's driver's license subject to an outstanding warrant of arrest, bench warrant or superior court warrant of arrest
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 510-e to read as follows:
§ 510-e. Suspension of licenses subject to an outstanding warrant of arrest. 1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner or the commissioner's agent shall have the power to revoke the license to drive a motor vehicle or motorcycle of any person against whom a warrant of arrest, bench warrant or superior court warrant of arrest is outstanding.
2. The commissioner is directed to develop and establish a program and procedure which will allow the immediate denial of a license because a person has an outstanding warrant of arrest, bench warrant or superior court warrant of arrest. Such a program shall be designed in such a manner that upon filing an application for a license, the license will be denied to such person or where a license has been granted, the right thereto shall be suspended upon notice that such an outstanding warrant in fact exists. As part of such program the division of criminal justice services shall explore the feasibility of providing general computer access to all outstanding warrants of arrest.
3. A person shall receive notice that the license shall be suspended in ninety days due to an outstanding warrant unless such person furnishes proof to the commissioner that such warrant has been recalled or fails to exist.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01463-01-7
A. 179 2
4. A license may be restored by direction of the commissioner upon such person furnishing sufficient proof that the warrant has been recalled.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.