In New York, points from traffic violations currently stay active on your driving record for 18 months from the date of the violation. After this period, the points become inactive for DMV accumulation purposes but remain visible on your driving record for up to three years from the conviction date. This means while points only count toward penalties like license suspension within an 18-month window, the record of the violation stays longer and can affect insurance rates

. Starting January 2026, this period during which points remain active for accumulation purposes will be extended from 18 months to 24 months (two years). This change means points will stay "active" on your record for a longer time, increasing the window during which multiple violations can lead to penalties such as license suspension or Driver Responsibility Assessment fees

. Additional details:

• Accumulating 11 or more points within the 18-month (soon 24-month) period can lead to license suspension

• Points remain visible on your record for three years after conviction, even if inactive for accumulation purposes

• Serious violations like alcohol or drug-related offenses remain on your record for 10 years or more and have harsher penalties

In summary:

Aspect| Current Rule| Starting 2026
---|---|---
Active points duration| 18 months from violation date| 24 months from violation date
Points visible on record| 3 years from conviction| Same
License suspension threshold| 11 points in 18 months| 11 points in 24 months
DUI/alcohol violations on record| 10 years| Same

Thus, points stay "active" for 18 months now, soon 24 months, but remain on your driving record for three years or longer depending on the violation type