What's happening
This bill requires traffic appearance tickets to include detailed fine and penalty information and changes notification requirements before suspending licenses for unpaid driver assessments.
Why it matters
Improves Transparency for Drivers. By requiring appearance tickets to clearly outline potential fines, point system impacts, driver responsibility assessments, and surcharges, the bill ensures drivers are better informed about the consequences of their alleged violations and can make more educated decisions about how to respond.
Reduces Surprise Suspensions. The bill mandates that drivers must receive two separate notices, at least 30 days apart, before their license can be suspended for not paying driver responsibility assessments. This gives drivers additional time and warning to resolve outstanding assessments and avoid sudden loss of driving privileges.
Promotes Fairness and Due Process. By specifying the information that must be provided and the steps the state must take before suspending a license, the bill addresses concerns about transparency and fairness in traffic enforcement, potentially reducing instances where individuals lose their licenses without adequate notice or understanding of their obligations.
May Impact Low-Income and Vulnerable Drivers. Clearer notice requirements and more detailed information on financial penalties could help protect drivers—especially those with limited resources—from cascading legal and financial consequences due to missed payments or misunderstandings about their obligations.
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Who cares
Drivers receiving traffic appearance tickets
Tickets would have to explain maximum fines, license-point consequences, driver responsibility assessments and maximum surcharges for a guilty plea.
Drivers with unpaid driver responsibility assessments
DMV would have to send two notices at least thirty days apart and wait thirty days after the second notice before suspending driving privileges for nonpayment.
Department of Motor Vehicles
The commissioner would have to develop the required ticket language, and the department would have to follow the new notice requirements before suspending drivers for unpaid assessments.
Law enforcement agencies issuing traffic appearance tickets
Their tickets would have to include the required information about financial penalties and license consequences.
Headline styles
List Fines on Traffic Tickets
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.808
- Referred to codes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2707
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 29, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to the inclusion of certain information on an appearance ticket; and to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to suspensions for failure to pay driver responsibility assessments
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "traffic violations fair notice act".
§ 2. Section 150.10 of the criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. Whenever an appearance ticket, as defined in subdivision one of this section, is issued in accordance with the provisions of section 150.20 of this article to a person alleging an offense of the vehicle and traffic law, such appearance ticket shall contain language in accordance with subdivision two of this section, and shall contain language, to be promulgated by the commissioner of motor vehicles, notifying the defendant of:
(a) the maximum fine schedule established by section one thousand eight hundred one of the vehicle and traffic law;
(b) how the number of points on your license affects your ability to maintain a driver's license, as set forth in 15 NYCRR § 131.4;
(c) the driver responsibility assessment program established under section five hundred three of the vehicle and traffic law, to whom it applies, and the fine schedule that accompanies it; and
(d) the maximum surcharges that may be applied against a driver if he or she pleads guilty to the alleged infraction.
§ 3. Section 510 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4-g to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01425-02-9
S. 2707 2
4-g. Suspension for failure to pay driver responsibility assessment. Before the department may suspend the driver's license or privileges of any person who fails to pay the driver responsibility assessment imposed upon him or her by the department pursuant to section five hundred three of this title, the department must have sent such person notices stating that he or she has failed to pay the required assessment. Such notices must be sent to the last known address of the individual on two separate occasions, each occasion occurring at least thirty days apart. If the assessment remains unpaid thirty days after the second and final notice has been sent, the department may suspend the driving privileges of such person. Such suspension shall take effect immediately.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 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 and directed to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to the inclusion of certain information on an appearance ticket; and to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to suspensions for failure to pay driver responsibility assessments
Purpose or general idea of bill
To notify persons receiving a traffic ticket of the associated penalties by including certain information on an appearance ticket.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 names the legislation the "traffic violations fair notice act".
Section 2 adds subdivision 3 to section 150.10 of the criminal procedure law to require that appearance tickets contain language notifying the defendant of the maximum fine schedule, how points affect the ability to maintain a driver's license, to whom the driver responsibility assess- ment applies as well as the fine schedule, and maximum surcharges.
Section 3 adds subdivision 4-g to section 510 of the vehicle and traffic law that requires the department to send two notices, thirty days apart, stating the defendant has failed to pay the required drivers responsi- bility assessment.
Section 4 directs the commissioner of motor vehicles to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date.
Section 5 contains the effective date.
Justification
Persons receiving traffic tickets are often confused about the punish- ments or fines they may be facing. The act provides suitable for notifi- cation for persons who receive appearance tickets by mandating that all appearance tickets in New York State contain all the information regard- ing punishments or fines a person may be facing, specifically: the maxi- mum fine schedule, how points affect the ability to maintain a driver's license, how the driver's responsibility assessment is applied as well as the fine schedule that accompanies it, and the maximum surcharge to a guilty plea. Persons who fail to pay the driver's responsibility assessment within thirty days currently have their driver's license suspended. The act also provides for two additional demands for payment prior to suspension.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: S.651 Referred to Codes
2015-16: S.655 Referred to Codes
2013-14: S.364 Referred to Codes
2011-12: S.5333/A.8897 Referred to Codes
2009-10: A.1061 Referred to Codes
2008: A.10919 Referred to Codes
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately; except that section two shall take effect on the 180th day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.