NYS DMV Implements ‘Forfeit After Four’ Policy to Revoke Repeat Offenders’ Licenses

NYS DMV Implements ‘Forfeit After Four’ Policy to Revoke Repeat Offenders’ Licenses

Edited by: TJVNews.com

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has implemented a groundbreaking policy aimed at permanently revoking the driver’s licenses of individuals with repeated drug- or alcohol-related driving offenses. As reported by Fox 5 New York, the new “Forfeit After Four” policy reduces the threshold for permanent license revocation from five offenses to four, reflecting the state’s increasingly stringent stance on road safety.

According to Fox 5 New York, the “Forfeit After Four” policy officially went into effect on Friday and marks a significant shift in how New York handles repeat impaired driving offenses. Previously, individuals would lose their driving privileges only after accumulating five drug- or alcohol-related convictions or incidents. Under the new rules, drivers who reach four such violations will face permanent license revocation.

Mark J.F. Schroeder, Commissioner of the NYS DMV, emphasized the critical need for such a policy, telling Fox 5 New York, “When someone is repeatedly convicted of driving under the influence, they need to be permanently removed from our roadways, and a ‘forfeit after four’ policy significantly increases our ability to do just that.”

The stricter measures aim to reduce the number of repeat offenders on New York’s roads, addressing a long-standing concern about the risks posed by impaired drivers.

Fox 5 New York outlined the specific conditions and consequences under the “Forfeit After Four” policy. Permanent license denial can now occur under the following scenarios:  Any driver who has accumulated four separate convictions or incidents related to impaired driving will lose their driving privileges indefinitely. If a driver has three alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions or incidents combined with one serious driving offense, their license will also be permanently revoked.

Additionally, Fox 5 New York highlighted that the DMV now has the authority to deny re-licensure applications for two years if an individual has three drug- or alcohol-related driving convictions without an accompanying serious offense. If the individual has a current license revocation due to an alcohol- or drug-related conviction, the re-licensure denial extends to five years.

These measures ensure that individuals with a history of reckless or dangerous driving behaviors cannot easily return to New York’s roadways.

The decision to enforce the “Forfeit After Four” policy is supported by data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Drivers with previous drug- or alcohol-related convictions are statistically far more likely to become repeat offenders. This alarming trend underscores the necessity of removing habitual offenders from behind the wheel permanently.

Schroeder reiterated this point in his statement to Fox 5 New York: “This law will appropriately take away the driving privileges of those who unfairly put everyone else on New York’s roads at greater risk.”

By addressing this pattern of repeat offenses, the state hopes to reduce traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities caused by impaired drivers.

While the new policy emphasizes strict accountability, the Fox 5 New York report noted that there are still pathways for individuals who meet specific criteria to reapply for a license after a set period. However, these pathways are limited and come with stringent conditions.

For example, applicants with three alcohol- or drug-related offenses and no serious driving violations face a two-year denial period before they can reapply for a license. Applicants with a current license revocation related to drug- or alcohol-related offenses face a five-year denial period before reapplication is permitted.