Labor Day Weekend signifies the end of summer, white clothes, and weekends at the beach. This year, Labor Day Weekend also signifies the end of an 18-day crackdown on impaired driving. Law Enforcement Agencies statewide are participating in the nationwide campaign called “Over the Limit. Under Arrest.” The 18-day initiative began on Friday, August 20 and will culminate on Labor Day (Monday, September 6).

Nationwide this campaign aims to reduce the deaths and injuries associated with impaired driving. Roughly every 40 minutes someone in the United States is killed in an alcohol-related accident. Last year, over one million people were injured in drunk driving accidents. In New York State, there were more than 9,000 alcohol-related accidents in 2008 and almost 400 lives were lost. While these numbers are a significant improvement from years past, New York State Law Enforcement Officials worry the public would become complacent about impaired driving issues without campaigns like this.

Law Enforcement Officials across the state have spoken out in support of the impaired driving crackdown. Personnel from Law Enforcement Agencies across the state are coming together to increase their impaired driving enforcement efforts through September 6. Law Enforcement will be aggressively looking for impaired drives. For those drivers who are found driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) over .08 they will be over the limit and under arrest.

The campaign follow closely behind the new ignition interlock provision that went into effect August 15. The new provision under Leandra’s Law requires anyone convicted of a drunk driving charge to install an ignition interlock device in any vehicle he or she operates. This applies to people who are convicted on both felony and misdemeanor charges. Anyone required to install the ignition interlocking device will do so at his or her own expense.

In New York, the campaign is part of the states STOP-DWI efforts. STOP-DWI is an acronym for “Special Traffic Options Program for Driving While Intoxicated.” According to the New York State STOP-DWI Association, highly visible law enforcement efforts are an effective deterrent against impaired driving. It also serves to remind New Yorkers that DWI is still a top priority to all New York Law Enforcement Agencies.

New York State is recognized across the country as a leader in traffic safety. In particular the State is recognized for its continued progress in reducing the number of alcohol-related accidents and deaths. New York's STOP-DWI program was created in 1981 by the State Legislature. The program is financially elf-sustained and is funded entirely from the fines paid by convicted drunk drivers. The program has office in each of New York’s counties and empowers the counties to coordinate their own local efforts to combat impaired driving.

Labels: blood alcohol level, drunk driving, new york dui laws, ny driving laws

The New York State Graduated Driver License Program limits the driving privileges for New York drivers under the age of 18 and who posses either a junior learners permit or a junior drivers license. Some of the limitations placed on the young drivers include where in New York State they can drive and what times of the day they are permitted to drive. Understanding the privileges and limitations is extremely important because if young drivers are convicted of violating the rules their driving privileges could be suspended or revoked for 60 days. New York State has general restrictions for young drivers with learner permits and junior licenses. However, there are also specific restrictions for young drivers depending on the region of the state in which they are driving.

The general restrictions for young drivers with learners permit are the same throughout the state. Teenagers are eligible to obtain their learner’s permit once they turn 16. After they have held their learners permit for six months they are eligible for their junior driver’s license.

Drivers with learner’s permits are prohibited from driving:

• On streets within New York City Park’s


• On bridges or through tunnels under the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority’s jurisdiction


• On the following parkways in Westchester County: Cross Country, Hutchinson River, Saw Mill Ricer and Taconic State


• On a DMV Road Test Area


• Without a proper supervising driver

After someone under the age of 18 has held their permit for at least six months they are eligible to take the road test and obtain their Junior Driver License. Drivers possessing a Junior License are not permitted to have more than one passenger under the age of 21 in their vehicle. The only exception to this rule is for immediate family members. In New York State, in order to get a Senior Drive License at 17 instead of 18 young drivers need to take a driver education course as well as complete 50 hours of supervised driving, 15 of which needs to take place after sunset.

New York State has specific driving restrictions for young drivers depending on which region of they state they are driving in. New York is divided into four regions and each region has different restrictions for young drivers. Below, you will see a breakdown of the restrictions by region for drivers with learner’s permits and junior licenses.

Upstate New York – Junior Learner’s Permit

• Supervised driving between 5am – 9pm. Under the supervision of someone at least 21 and with a valid license


• Supervised driving between 9pm – 5am. The supervisor must be a parent, guardian or driving instructor.


• Only one passenger under the age of 21 is allowed in the vehicle. Unless they passengers are member of your immediate family.

Upstate New York – Junior Driver’s License

• Unsupervised driving between 5am – 9pm


• Unsupervised driving between 9pm – 5am only to and from employment (must have proof) or a school course.


• Supervised driving by a parent, guardian, or driving instructor between 9pm-5am when not driving to or from work or a school course.


• Only one passenger under 21 that is not immediate family.

Lower Hudson Valley – Junior Learner’s Permit
(Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties)

• Follows the same privileges and restrictions for as Upstate New York.

Lower Hudson Valley - Junior Driver’s License
(Westchester, Rockland and Putnam Counties)

• Follows the same privileges and restrictions for as Upstate New York.

Long Island – Junior Leaner’s Permit
(Nassau and Suffolk Counties)

• Supervised driving between 5am-9pm. The supervisor must be a parent, guardian, a person with written authorization from your parent or your guardian to supervise your driving or a driving instructor. The supervisor must be at least 21 with a valid driver’s license.


• Driving is prohibited between 9pm-5am


• Only the supervising driver may sit in the front seat


• Only one passenger under 21, unless the passenger(s) are immediate family.

Long Island – Junior Driver’s License
(Nassau and Suffolk Counties)

• Unsupervised driving between 5am-9pm between home, place of employment (must have proof) and school or driver’s ed courses.


• Supervised driving between 9pm-5am. The supervisor must be a parent, guardian or driving instructor.


• No more than one passenger under 21, unless the passenger(s) are immediate family.

New York City – Junior Learner’s Permit
(5 Boroughs)

• Supervised driving between 5am-9pm. Supervisor must be a parents, guardian or driving instructor.


• Vehicle being driven must have dual breaks.


• The only passenger allowed in the front seat is the supervising driver.


• No more than one passenger under 21 that is not immediate family.

New York City – Junior Driver’s License
(5 Boroughs)

• Supervised driving between 5am-9pm. Supervisor must be a parent, guardian or driving instructor.


• Supervised driving between 9pm-5am. Supervisor must be a parent, guardian or driving instructor.


• The vehicle must have dual breaks.


• No more than one passenger under 21 that is not immediate family.

Learn more about how Graduated Driver License (GDL) Laws compare between states at our Teen Safe Driving Blog.

Labels: drivers license, gdl law, graduated drivers license, learners permit, new york driving laws, new york gdl laws, ny driving laws