New York state residents will lose their driving privileges permanently after four drug- or alcohol-related convictions or incidents under tightened regulations that took effect Friday.
Previously, drivers would face permanent license denial after five drug- or alcohol-related convictions or incidents such as failure to submit to a chemical test.
“At some point we have to say, ‘enough is enough.’ When someone is repeatedly convicted of driving under the influence, they need to be permanently removed from our roadways, and a ‘forfeit after four’ policy significantly increases our ability to do just that,” said Mark J.F. Schroeder, commissioner of the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
The revised regulations also allow for permanent license denial after three alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions or incidents plus one or more other serious driving offenses.
In addition, the DMV can now deny an application for re-licensure for two years if the applicant has three alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions and no serious driving offense. Other applicants who meet the same criteria but have a current license revocation for an alcohol- or drug-related conviction will face a five-year denial.
Drivers with prior drug- or alcohol-related offenses are more likely to be repeat offenders, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.