Auto Insurance Lapse – Need Temporary Auto Insurance in New York
Reader’s Question:
I have an unregistered car in community parking lot. Because of the insurance lapse in NY, my registration is suspended so I returned the car plates. But my community apartment parking management warned me of towing my car because it is not registered. Since I do not have a private home, where should I store my car? Is there a temporary parking registration? Where can I get this?
Mishi
Brooklyn, NY
As you are aware, registration and driver’s license will be suspended indefinitely if the car is without insurance and he owner fails to surrender the vehicle plates to the New York DMV.
On the otherhand, a lapse in your insurance coverage in New York State and failure to immediately surrender the vehicle plates will suspend the registration for the same number of days that the car is without an insurance but has held the vehicle plates. You should pay the termination fee of $25 when the suspension period ends to reinstate your driver’s license.
The site of New York State Department of Motor Vehicles provides a list of the civil penalties amounts for registration suspensions caused by insurance lapse. You can look for a private storage facility to solve you parking situation until you get your plates back and reinstate your registration since most of the pubic lot, like your apartment’s parking lot, will tow vehicles if the parking lot management finds out that the car is without a registration.
You can check with NYS DMV if there is any temporary parking registration or any other type of decal that you could place on your car while it is in current location so that the car will not be towed.
Do You Need Driver Responsibility Assessment in New York?
Reader’s Question:
I got a ticket in White Plains, New York for driving 24 mph over the speed limit. I have a drivers license in Connecticut. I paid the fine and am now being charged a hundred dollars a year for the next three years for a “Driver Responsibility Assessment”. This is totally unfair assessment I do realize that I will not be able to drive in the state of New York for at least the next 3 years and I’m fine with that but will there be any effect on me here in Connecticut if I just ignore this?
Mark
White Plains, NY
According to the State of New York it has deemed necessary for a driver to pay the driver responsibility assessment if after November 18, 2004 if you are convicted of an alcohol-related traffic offense, you are convicted of a drug-related traffic infraction, a DMV hearing decides that you refused a chemical test or you received 6 or more points on your driver record during a period of eighteen months. The different infractions are assessed with different fees to pay for 3 years.
If you receive a statement from the New York DMV that informs you to pay a driver responsibility assessment, you need to pay the assessment. If you decide to ignore this, the DMV will suspend your driver license, your driving privileges or learner’s permit. Your driver’s license being suspended will probably affect your driving privileges in CT as well. Both states are part of a Driver License Agreement that permits DMVs to exchange information. Probably your CT driver’s license will be suspended for not paying the assessment in New York but for the specifics of what will happen I suggest that you contact your local DMV.
