New York Implements Stricter License Points System for Drunk Driving

Advocates say more is needed to address root causes of impaired driving

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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New York has implemented a new DMV points system that assigns up to 11 points for a single DWI offense, potentially leading to license suspensions. While Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) sees this as a positive step, they argue the focus should be on behavior modification rather than just punishment. MADD is advocating for lowering the legal blood alcohol content limit and increasing the use of breathalyzer interlock systems in offenders' vehicles.

Why it matters

Drunk driving remains a major public safety issue in New York, with advocates pushing for stronger laws and enforcement to curb impaired driving and the tragic consequences it can have. The new points system is an attempt to impose harsher penalties, but some feel more comprehensive solutions are needed.

The details

New York's new DMV points system assigns up to 11 points for a single DWI offense, potentially leading to license suspensions. MADD has a mixed reaction, seeing it as a positive step but arguing the focus should be on addressing the root causes of drunk driving through behavior modification rather than just punishment. MADD is advocating for lowering the legal blood alcohol content limit from 0.08 to 0.05 and increasing the use of breathalyzer interlock systems in offenders' vehicles, though they note only about 25% of required offenders actually have the systems installed.

  • The new DMV points system in New York recently took effect.

The players

Paige Carbone

A representative from the New York chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

Erica Linn

A MADD advocate who lost both of her parents in a drunk driving incident in Westchester County, New York.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)

A national non-profit organization that works to stop drunk driving, support the victims of such crimes, and prevent underage drinking.

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What they’re saying

“We have a little bit of a mixed reaction with this news.”

— Paige Carbone, MADD New York representative

“We're not opposed to this. You know, we understand where New York State is coming from. But again, I think, really having those conversations, really looking at it as more of a behavior modification than a punishment type of thing is sort of the way that we like to look at having those stricter laws in the state of New York.”

— Paige Carbone, MADD New York representative

“I lost both of my parents on my 50th birthday in Westchester County, New York [at] 2:00 in the afternoon.”

— Erica Linn, MADD advocate

“We use with the interlock systems, which is supposed to be installed into all vehicles of offenders, to kind of give them an awareness, getting behind a 4,000 pound vehicle when you're impaired is not the smart thing to do.”

— Erica Linn, MADD advocate

What’s next

MADD is advocating for New York to lower the legal blood alcohol content limit from 0.08 to 0.05 and increase the use of breathalyzer interlock systems in offenders' vehicles.

The takeaway

While the new license points system is a step in the right direction, advocates argue that more comprehensive solutions focused on behavior modification and addressing the root causes of drunk driving are needed to truly curb this public safety issue in New York.