Most people don’t realize that a conviction for driving without insurance carries a more substantial penalty than a conviction for the average speeding ticket or moving violation. In fact driving without insurance is one of the most serious traffic infractions there is under the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. If you are convicted of driving without insurance in New York, not only will you have to pay a fine of at least $100, a mandatory surcharge of $88 and a NYS DMV civil penalty of $750, but you will also receive a license revocation for 1 year.

 

The ultimate resolution of a ticket for driving without insurance depends on a number of factors including whether there was an accident at the time of the incident, the owner of the vehicle, other tickets issued at the same time, the court or traffic agency the ticket is returnable to, and whether you are able to show proof that the vehicle was insured at the time of the stop, or in cases where there is a lapse of insurance, the length of the lapsed.

 

Because of the serious consequences a conviction for no insurance carries, tickets for no insurance should be taken seriously. In some courts, if you fail to timely answer a no insurance ticket, your license will be suspended. In other courts, you will be automatically convicted by default. In fact, everyday motorist are convicted in default at the Traffic Violations Bureaus ( TVB’s) throughout the 5 boroughs, at the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency (SCTPVA) in Suffolk County,  and at the Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency  (NCTPVA) in Nassau County without ever having conducted a trial. Consequently, no insurance tickets should be taken seriously. If you have received a ticket for no insurance you should consult with an attorney.