Department of Motor Vehicles

June 26, 2015  

DMV ANNOUNCES CITY OF BUFFALO TO TAKE OVER OPERATIONS OF TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS AGENCY AS OF JULY 1, 2015

Unanswered Tickets Transfer to New Buffalo Traffic Violations Agency on July 1

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Deputy Commissioner Neal Schoen today announced that the City of Buffalo will assume all responsibility for traffic tickets effective July 1. Due to a change in state law, the city will now assume responsibility for where and how motorists answer moving violation tickets issued in the City of Buffalo. DMV previously had responsibility for adjudicating traffic tickets in the City of Buffalo.

“The new legislation creating the Buffalo Traffic Violations Agency (BTVA) was enacted in the 2015-16 budget and goes into effect July 1,” said Schoen. “We have been working with the City of Buffalo and respective state employee unions for a number of months to make this transition as seamless as possible. As a result, we expect a smooth and easy transition with the City.”

Any individual who received a traffic ticket may answer the ticket and enter a plea with the DMV Buffalo TVB prior to July 1. DMV will transfer any unanswered tickets to BTVA on July 1. All individuals are required to pay the TVB any suspension termination fees required to clear a suspended license or driving privilege.

The DMV Buffalo TVB office is located at 295 Main Street, Room 360, Buffalo. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Buffalo Traffic Violations Agency is located at 65 Niagara Square, 115 City Hall, Buffalo. Office hours are 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

DMV expects to continue occupying part of the Ellicott Square Building to conduct DMV safety hearings, which includes chemical test refusals, hearings involving regulated businesses, and hearings related to fatal crashes. DMV will continue to operate Ticket Violations Bureaus in New York City and Rochester.

Failure to answer any ticket in a timely manner may result in a license or driving privilege suspension in New York State, as well as a possible suspension termination fee regardless of the final disposition of the ticket.

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