What's happening
This bill allows the DMV to suspend or deny driver's licenses for individuals with outstanding arrest or bench warrants.
Why it matters
Links criminal justice to driving privileges. By allowing the DMV to suspend or deny licenses based on outstanding warrants, the bill increases the consequences for individuals who have not resolved their legal issues, potentially pressuring them to address warrants more quickly.
Creates a streamlined system for enforcement. The bill calls for the development of a program that immediately flags and acts on outstanding warrants during the license application or renewal process, making it harder for individuals to avoid accountability through administrative loopholes.
Provides due process and a path to reinstatement. Individuals will receive a 90-day notice before suspension and can avoid losing their license by proving the warrant no longer exists, and can have their license restored once the warrant is cleared, ensuring there is a clear process for compliance.
May impact access to transportation for affected individuals. The suspension or denial of licenses as a result of outstanding warrants could have significant effects on a person's ability to work, care for family, or fulfill other responsibilities, which may have broader social and economic consequences.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Suspend Licenses for Warrants
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2949
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
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.
LBD00282-01-9
A. 2949 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.