BUFFALO, N.Y. — As of Tuesday, nearly 50,000 drivers across New York State were in danger of having their licenses suspended if they failed to meet an important deadline, which arrives on Friday, Dec. 1.
When the pandemic hit and DMV offices were closed, drivers whose licenses expired between March 1 of 2020 and Aug. 31, 2021, were allowed to self report their visual acuity on line, with the understanding that they would eventually have to submit to an in-person vision test.
For those who haven't, their time is just about up.
"The NY State DMV had extended the deadline a number of times," noted Erie County Clerk Michael Kearns, whose office, like those of other county clerks across the state, operates local DMV offices.
"For whatever reason people have still not complied," said Niagara County Clerk Joseph A. Jastrzemski, who confirmed that as of Tuesday there were 494 licensed drivers in his county who were still out of compliance.
In Erie County the number stood at 1,960, representing more than half of the total for the eight county area of Western New York which stood at 3,124 of those who had not yet complied and submitted proof of vision tests.
As firm as the state is about the Dec. 1 deadline, it is just as firm about the consequences for those who don't meet it, according to Jastrzemski.
"Their license will be suspended," he said. "It'll be a suspension that will be attached to their diver's license in the data base, and if they get pulled over by a police officer they could be charged for driving with a suspended license."
While there are a number of DMV approved providers, including optical shops who can conduct the tests, both clerks say if you've waited this long there are real advantages to having the done at a local DMV office instead.
At the DMV offices in Erie County, according to Kearns, you won't need an appointment and when you arrive you'll get priority service.
"If they go to the customer service desk and say I'm here to get my eye test, we'll get them in right away, we'll take the test, and it'll take less than five minutes," he said.
"And we'll do it free of charge," Jastrzemski added. "There are some providers that will charge you to do that service."
More importantly, both noted, certification of compliance will be entered into the DMV data base without delay.