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New York driving lesson · Alcohol and Other Drugs

Repeat offenders

A 3-minute lesson from the New York course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Checkpoint questions
4
Source pages
56, 57

New York has one of the toughest licensing policies in the nation for drivers with repeated dangerous driving convictions. DMV looks at your whole history before giving back a revoked license, and some drivers never get one back.

Know the rule

DMV reviews the lifetime record of every driver who applies to have a license reinstated after a revocation.

Handbook p. 56 ↗

DMV will deny reinstatement after a revocation if the applicant has:

  • Four alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions or incidents in their lifetime, or
  • Three in the 25-year look-back period plus at least one other serious driving offense in that period
Handbook p. 56 ↗
25 years

The look-back period DMV uses for repeat alcohol or drug offenses

Handbook p. 56 ↗

A "serious driving offense" includes:

  • A fatal crash
  • A driving-related penal law conviction
  • 20 or more points for driving violations within the 25-year look-back period
  • Two or more driving convictions in that period, each worth five points or more
Handbook p. 56 ↗

Three alcohol/drug convictions or incidents in 25 years, but no serious driving offense:

  • Denial for 5 years beyond the revocation period if revoked for an alcohol or drug offense
  • Denial for 2 extra years if revoked for another reason
  • Then a restricted license, limited to trips such as work or medical visits
  • An ignition interlock on the vehicle for five years from the date the license is issued
Handbook p. 57 ↗

Know the rule

Drivers suspended or revoked twice within 25 years used to get full privileges back in as little as seven weeks through DMV's Impaired Driver Program. Now they must wait until the full suspension or revocation term has ended.

Handbook p. 57 ↗

Put it into practice

A driver has three DWI convictions in the last 25 years and no other serious offense. After the latest revocation ends, DMV denies reinstatement for five more years. The license then comes back restricted, with a five-year interlock requirement.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

A driver has 3 alcohol-related convictions in the 25-year lookback period plus one other serious driving offense. What does DMV do?
  1. Denies any reinstatement application
  2. Automatically reinstates after the statutory period
  3. Issues a warning letter only
  4. Requires only a defensive driving course

Answer: Denies any reinstatement application

DMV denies reinstatement if a driver has three alcohol/drug convictions in the 25-year lookback plus a serious driving offense.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
How many alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions or incidents in a lifetime lead DMV to deny any license reinstatement?
  1. Two
  2. Four
  3. Three
  4. Five

Answer: Four

After a lifetime record review, DMV denies reinstatement if the applicant has four alcohol or drug-related convictions or incidents in their lifetime.

Handbook p. 56 ↗
A driver with three alcohol convictions in 25 years, but no other serious offense, was revoked for an alcohol offense. What extra wait applies?
  1. Five years beyond the revocation period
  2. Two years beyond the revocation period
  3. Seven weeks in the Impaired Driver Program
  4. None once the revocation period ends

Answer: Five years beyond the revocation period

DMV denies these applications for five years beyond the statutory revocation period (two years if revoked for a non-alcohol reason).

Handbook p. 57 ↗
A repeat alcohol offender gets a restricted license after DMV's extra waiting period. How long is an ignition interlock required?
  1. One year
  2. Six months
  3. Five years
  4. Ten years

Answer: Five years

An interlock is required on the vehicle for five years from the date the license is issued.

Handbook p. 57 ↗
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