You are traveling out of state and are given a ticket for a traffic violation in another state or province — what happens next and how does it affect your New York state driver’s license? Well, it depends on the violation and where it happens.

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles does not record convictions of moving traffic violations by New York state non-commercial licensed drivers in other jurisdictions, except traffic offenses committed in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Therefore, except for traffic convictions in these two provinces, out-of-state traffic convictions are not added to your New York “violations point” driving record.

However, your New York state license will be suspended if you fail to answer a ticket for a moving violation in any state except Alaska, California, Michigan, Montana, Oregon or Wisconsin. Your license will remain suspended until you answer the ticket. Likewise, drivers from any state, except those from the six states listed above, will have their driver licenses suspended in their own state for failure to answer a moving violation summons in New York.

If you are over 21 years old, and are convicted of an alcohol or drug-related driving violation (e.g. DUI) in any other state or in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, your New York driver license will be revoked for at least 90 days. If you are under 21 and convicted of any alcohol or drug-related violation that occurred out of state, your New York driver license will be revoked for at least one year. If you have any prior alcohol conviction, no matter when it occurred, your license will be revoked for at least one year or until the age of 21, whichever is longer.

The New York DMV records the convictions of any New York driver for criminal negligence, homicide, or assault that arises out of the operation of a motor vehicle and which results in death. In addition the driver’s license or privilege to drive and all vehicle registrations may be suspended, whether the conviction occurred in this state or elsewhere.

Information presented in this article is presented by the state DMV and may be found in the New York State Driver’s Manual.

For more articles on traffic law and safety, go to the traffic safety board’s website at www.franklincony.org and click on “Traffic Safety Board” under departments then look for “Did You Know” articles under “services.” You may also email me at: dwerner151@verizon.net.