Department of Motor Vehicles

New York motorists who skipped a vision test when renewing their drivers licenses during the pandemic risk having their licenses suspended.

The State Department of Motor Vehicles has sent warnings to nearly 150,000 drivers who took the option to defer — but not skip — the vision test requirement.

The DMV has sent repeated notices to affected drivers over the last two years and a more urgent notice in recent days.

The COVID-19 pandemic had forced the closing of many DMV offices; many eye doctors’ offices were also closed at the time. To reduce lines at DMV offices, the state allowed drivers to “self-certify their vision” when renewing online a license that expired between March 1, 2020, and August 31, 2021.

Drivers who received the recent notices to get eye exams have several options. They may submit proof of a vision test already taken, submit proof of a vision test by a provider on the DMV’s list of approved providers, see a provider not on the list by having the provider complete a Vision Test Report, go to a DMV office to complete the test, or visit the DMV website for a different process to renew a commercial driver’s license

For more information and for forms, visit dmv.ny.gov

(Photo by NHTSA)

Law enforcement will be stepping up patrols and targeting drug-impaired driving today.

The State Police, Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee remind motorists that driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, including cannabis, is not only dangerous, it is illegal in New York State

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said if you’re planning to consume cannabis, do not drive. Designate a sober driver who won’t be consuming or use public transportation or a ride-sharing service.

According to NHTSA, between 2009 and 2018, of those drivers killed in crashes and tested, the presence of cannabis had nearly doubled.

In 2018, 46 percent of drivers who were killed in crashes and were tested for drugs, tested positive.

In every U.S. state and territory, it is illegal to drive under the influence of drugs — no exceptions.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and Department of Environmental Conservation released a joint statement saying deer become more active and are more likely to enter public roadways this time of year.

The months of November and December are breeding season for deer and the animals are more visible.

According to the University at Albany’s Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, 41% of the crashes in 2021 between deer and vehicles occurred during the October to December time span.

Motorists should be aware animals are especially active at dawn and dusk when visibility may be reduced and commuter traffic may be heavy.

DEC recommends motorists take these precautions to reduce the chance of hitting a deer:
– Decrease speed when you approach deer near roadsides. Deer can “bolt” or change direction at the last minute;
– If you see a deer go across the road, decrease speed and be careful. Deer often travel in groups, so expect other deer to follow;
– Use emergency lights or a headlight signal to warn other drivers when deer are seen on or near the road;
– Use caution on roadways marked with deer crossing signs; and
– Use extreme caution when driving at dawn or dusk, when animal movement is at its highest and visibility is reduced.
– If encountering an animal on the roadway, brake firmly but do not swerve. Swerving can cause a collision with another vehicle, a tree, a pole, or other objects. If an animal is hit, the DEC advises motorists to stay away from the animal. A frightened, wounded deer could use its powerful legs and sharp hooves to cause harm.

If you strike or encounter an animal you should move your vehicle to a safe place, call police, and don’t assume your vehicle is safe to drive.

The Chautauqua County Board of Elections said a recent ruling in State Supreme Court ordered that all changes of enrollment received between August 12 and 30 will take effect on August 30.

Board of Elections Commissioner Brian Abram said following the June primaries, officials realized there needed to be a deadline in place for party enrollment for the August primary, “It became a court order to allow a deadline to be put in place to say to every voter, ‘Whatever you are on August 11 is what you will be for the primary.’ The special (election) doesn’t get affected because everybody is invited (to vote) in the special. But a primary election in New York State, it’s a closed primary system. You have to be a member of that party that is conducting the primary to participate.”

Abram said, therefore, the last day for voters to change their enrollment to be eligible to vote in the August 23, 2022 Republican Primary is August 11th. Registrations must be received by the Board of Elections on August 11th. Mailed applications must be received before or on August 11 to qualify.

For voters who wish to change their enrollment via the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles MotorVoter portal, the change must be submitted one day earlier, August 10th. This is because there is a one day delay in the Board of Elections receiving information from the DMV.

This latest phishing scam is a series of such text message schemes that the DMV has warned New Yorkers to avoid. Phishing texts are messages designed to obtain data or sensitive personal information to be used to commit identity theft or trick the recipient into installing malicious software onto a device.

DMV said If someone clicks on the link provided, it will bring them to a webpage that looks like the DMV website and they are asked to submit personal information.

Hochul said the change is being implemented in accordance with the State’s Gender Recognition Act, which goes into effect on June 24. This legislation provides expanded protections for transgender and non-binary New Yorkers through this change at the Department of Motor Vehicles and by making it easier for people to change their names, change their sex designation and change their birth certificates to reflect their identity.

Hochul said in a release, “As we prepare to celebrate Pride Month, I am excited to announce this historic change that represents another victory in our fight to help ensure equality and respect for the LGBTQ+ community. Every person, regardless of their gender identity or expression, deserves to have an identity document that reflects who they are. My administration remains committed to ensuring that New York is a place of value, love and belonging for members of the LGBTQ+ community.”

New Yorkers who have an existing driver license, learner permit, or non-driver ID will have the option to change the gender marker on their photo ID from “M” or “F” to “X”, and those who are applying for a state photo ID for the first time will have the option to choose “X”.

Customers who do not want to visit a DMV office to change their existing ID document will have the option to change their gender designation through an online transaction beginning in July 2022.

Governor Kathy Hochul waived the requirement for out-of-staters and Canadians to register their snowmobile in New York State for the weekends of March 5 and 6 and March 12 and 13.

Participants in the free snowmobiling event must still operate a snowmobile that’s validly registered and insured in their home state or province.

Hochul also announced up to $4.2 million for snowmobile trail maintenance and grooming will be distributed to local partners across the state.

The local grants program is funded by snowmobile registration fees collected by the State Department of Motor Vehicles and deposited into the Snowmobile Trail Development and Maintenance Fund. County and municipal governments distribute the grants to about 230 snowmobile clubs across the state, which in turn groom and maintain the trails. The trail grants support 10,500 miles of designated trails across the state for snowmobilers to safely enjoy.

The DMV reminds New York riders that snowmobile registrations must be renewed annually. The DMV allows snowmobilers to renew registrations online on the DMV website, by mail or in person at a DMV office. Snowmobile registration costs $100, but is decreased to $45 if the snowmobiler is a member of a local snowmobile club.

Non-New Yorkers who wish to use a snowmobile in New York State before or after this promotional weekends can use the NYS Registration for Out-of-State Snowmobile service to get a 15-day registration and operate their snowmobile here immediately. The DMV will send a permanent registration in the mail.

Chautauqua County Clerk Larry Barmore said for those renewing registration online or by mail to Albany, the state DMV is notifying people that registration stickers are delayed for four to six weeks.

Barmore added that the local Chautauqua County DMV offices have a supply of over 10,000 registration stickers available whether a resident renews in person, uses the county’s drop box, or mails to a local DMV office.

He said 12.7% of registration fees paid at the local DMV offices stays in Chautauqua County.

Larry Barmore

MAYVILLE – Chautauqua County Clerk Larry Barmore is joining 27 other county clerks from across New York State with DMV responsibilities in calling on Governor Andrew Cuomo and state DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder to halt implementation of the Driver License Access & Privacy Act, also known as the Green Light law, immediately for the safety and security of all New Yorkers. Among those who are making the request are all officers of the New York State Association of County Clerks (NYSACC),

In a media release sent out on Friday, the group said that following what they say are two hastily delivered webinars and a conference call, they agree that the state DMV failed to provide regulations that would ensure the integrity of the identification process for Standard Driver License applicants.

The group claims the State DMV has failed to put in place safeguards to prevent someone who has a social security number from signing the affidavit form (NSS-1) claiming they’ve never been issued a social security number, enabling people to conceal their true identities. In fact, State DMV representatives admitted during their conference call with County Clerks on Monday, December 9 that they have no way to check or verify if a person using the affidavit form (NSS-1) in fact was never issued a social security number.

The group also claims the State DMV has also failed to apply standards to the translation certification process, allowing anyone regardless of their age or language proficiency to certify a document’s correct translation without any proof of such. The absence of standards to the translation certification process allows for anyone regardless of their relationship to the applicant to certify the translation of documents for anyone, including minors. Furthermore, County DMV representatives have no way of ensuring the correct translation of written documents and have been directed by State officials to simply “look for the word ‘certify’ on the document.”

Because of these lax regulations, the group says that implementation of the State law at this time would create unacceptable security risks as the loopholes allow for nefarious people to obtain a New York State Standard Driver Licenses and use it to commit bank fraud, identity theft, credit card fraud, human trafficking, and other criminal activities.

In addition, the group says that the federal REAL ID Act, which increases security standards for certain state-issued driver licenses and identity documents, goes into effect October, 1, 2020.  They say the implementation of the State law prior to October 1, 2020 would create unacceptable security risks because the lax regulations would allow for nefarious people to obtain a New York State Standard Driver License and use it to board an airplane, enter secure federal buildings, enter military bases or enter nuclear sites for malicious reasons for nine months until the REAL ID Act takes effect.

As a result of the concerns provided, the group of 27 county clerks are strongly urge Governor Cuomo to halt the implementation of the Driver License Access & Privacy Act and to direct the State Department of Motor Vehicles to promulgate stronger regulations that would protect the security of all New Yorkers and ensure the integrity of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles licensing and identification verification procedures.

Those clerks who are calling for the delay are:

• Larry Barmore (Chautauqua)
• Michael Bartolotti (Putnam)
• Kip Cassavaw (Franklin)
• Michael Cianfrini (Genesee)
• Sandra DePerno (Oneida)
• Susan Dwyer (Cayuga)
• Kathy Gardner (Otsego)
• Debra Goodrich (Delaware)
• Craig Hayner (Saratoga)
• Michael Jankowski (Wayne)
• Joseph Jastrzemski (Niagara)
• Indy Jaycox (Schoharie)
• Michael Kearns (Erie)
• Michael Keville (Madison)
• Andrea Klett (Tioga)
• Brittany Kolbe (Montgomery)
• Linda Kollar (Fulton)
• Elizabeth Larkin (Cortland)
• Stephanie Lemery (Washington)
• Gizelle Meeks (Jefferson)
• Frank Merola (Rensselaer)
• Joseph Mihalko (Broome)
• Joseph Provoncha (Essex)
• Sylvia Rowan (Herkimer)
• Theresa Thilbin (Schuyler)
• Pamela Vogel (Warren)
• Jane Zarecki (Hamilton)

The New York State Liquor Authority and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles partnered with local law enforcement in conducting sweeps of locations holding liquor licenses, including bars, restaurants, liquor stores and grocery stores, looking for fake IDs and retailers who sell alcohol to minors.

Across the state, 851 businesses were visited and 186 were found to be selling to underage agents.

Of the 21 businesses in Chautauqua County that were targeted, three were found to have violated the law and sold alcohol to minors.

The included the Allen Street Grocery & Deli Mart and Robo in Jamestown, along with Don’s Car Wash in Lakewood.

Businesses charged with underage sales face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, with fines starting from $2,500 to $3,000 for a first-time offense.