If you do not have a valid driver license with you and you are stopped a law enforcement officer in New York can use this as a reason to issue a ticket for unlicensed operation (driving without a license). We have read that the traffic court or the Traffic Violations Bureau can dismiss the ticket if you provide the proof that your driver license was valid when the officer issued the ticket.

Per section 509 of the New York Vehicle and Traffic Code (VAT), to drive a vehicle in legally in New York State the operator must have a valid driver's license.

A violation of section 509 of the VAT is punishable by a fine of not less than $75 nor more than $300, or by imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or by both fine and jail time. If the person is cited for not renewing a license and it was valid within 60 days, the fine shall not be more than $40.

If you were ticketed for driving without a license in NYS but do have a valid license that you can show the court than call the clerk of the court listed on your citation to see what documentation you will need and if you can get the traffic ticket dismissed. The court should also be able to advise you if you will owe any type of fine or court fee or not.

Obviously if you get the traffic violation dismissed than neither the offense nor points would be placed on your New York driving record. If you want information on the points system that NYS does have in place than you can contact the NYS DMV or go online to look at their points list. While license offenses are not listed here specifically they may fall into the big category of "all other moving violations" which would get 2 points placed on a motor vehicle record.