The Cuomo administration will start providing prosecutors with more extensive driving records of motorists who are facing serious traffic charges in a bid to crack down on dangerous drivers, The Post has learned.
The state Department of Motor Vehicles will give authorities a driver’s summons history dating back 10 years — including the initial ticket charge, regardless of whether the conviction was reduced to a lesser charge — allowing investigators access to potentially more serious traffic violations such as drug- or alcohol-related offenses, speeding and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.
Prosecutors currently only have access to data on convictions. This limited disclosure is a problem in monitoring reckless drivers because tickets are often pled down to a lesser offense.
“By giving prosecutors a more complete story of a person’s driving history, they can. . . help ensure that potentially dangerous drivers no longer fall through the cracks,” Gov. Cuomo said. “These reforms will protect motorists and make this a safer New York.”
According to 2010 DMV records, 129,628 speeding charges were pled down from a speeding violation to “parking on pavement” convictions in city, town, village and district courts. In 2011, 112,996 such pleas were accepted — reducing a speeding charge to a parking violation.
Speeding convictions result in anywhere from three to 11 points being placed on a license, depending on the miles per hour over the speed limit. The DMV can yank the license of any motorist who accumulates 11 or more points within 18 months.
But no points are assigned to pleas for a lesser parking violation.The 10-year driving histories will be disclosed only to district attorneys, paralegals and investigators working on traffic enforcement cases. And the information will only be displayed to authorities if the original ticket resulted in a guilty conviction of a lesser charge, was covered by another ticket or is still pending. Tickets where the charge was dismissed or where youthful offender status was granted will not be included.
“When Gov. Cuomo asked the DMV to look into how we could make information on past traffic tickets available to prosecutors, we knew that providing such information would have a positive impact on traffic safety,” said Commissioner of Motor Vehicles Barbara J. Fiala.“By making ticket history available, the prosecutors and the courts will have a more accurate record of the violator’s complete driving record.”