Technology permits law enforcement to scan your license plate. This technology produces a "ping" if there is a suspension of the vehicle's registration. The "ping" triggers the officer/trooper to perform a traffic stop. Typically the officer/trooper will issue a ticket for violating Vehicle & Traffic Law (VTL) 512.  It is likely for the officer/trooper to issue tickets for related crimes and traffic infractions such as:

• VTL 510.7;      Failure To Surrender Suspended Registration
• VTL 355;         Operating While Registration Suspended 
• VTL 340.A;      Failure To Surrender Suspended License Plates 
• VTL 401.1;      Unregistered Motor Vehicle
• VTL 319.1;      Uninsured Operation
• VTL 306.B.      Uninspected

Driving with a suspended registration is a misdemeanor crime punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $100 + a mandatory state surcharge.   VTL 510.7, 355 and 340.A are also misdemeanor crimes punishable by jail time and fines.  Your case will likely be heard in District Court if you were stopped in Nassau or Suffolk Counties on Long Island.  The vehicle is not legal to drive until the registration suspension is cleared.

The cause of a suspended registration is usually due to an insurance lapse.  Your insurance company will notify NYSDMV if there is a lapse for non payment or a policy cancellation.  Reinstating the insurance does not cure the lapse.   The registrant/insured must pay a civil penalty of $8 per day for each day of the lapse.  Or,  if ineligible, the registrant must surrender the license plates to NYSDMV for a period of time equal to that of the insurance lapse.  The vehicle cannot be used during that period.

What if there was no insurance lapse?  If  you changed insurance companies, the new carrier may have failed to electronically file proof of coverage from the date that your former carrier notified NYSDMV of the policy cancellation.  If you had continuous and uninterrupted insurance, the registration suspension will be rescinded (retroactively cancelled as though it never happened).  To accomplish the rescission of a registration suspension, the current insurance carrier must electronically file proof that the insurance coverage was in effect as of the date of cancellation or for whatever dates NYSDMV is missing proof of coverage for.   If the registration suspension was due to an administrative error, your tickets should be dismissed. 

Other causes of  a suspended registration are unpaid tolls, parking tickets or, for commercial vehicles, issues with NYS Highway Use Taxes.   Clearing the registration requires payment of the tolls, parking tickets or tax issues.

Feel free to contact me, Jeanne Marie Beckmann at 516 485 4888 for a free telephone consultation concerning your suspended registration tickets.