NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) – More than 50,000 New York drivers risk having their licenses suspended as early as Friday unless they fulfill the mandatory eye test requirement, a condition for renewals granted under a COVID-19-related measure.
The COVID-19 regulation allowed some drivers to defer their required vision tests during the pandemic, the state Department of Motor Vehicles had announced in 2020.
Drivers were allowed to self-certify their vision test requirements temporarily.
This policy applied to licenses expiring between March 1, 2020, and Aug. 31, 2021. It aimed to reduce crowding at DMV offices during the peak of the pandemic.
However, drivers were not exempted from eventually completing these tests.
The deadline to complete these tests was Sunday and drivers who have not provided proof of meeting the vision requirements will face license suspension.
Now, tests taken at DMV offices will require up to five business days to process.
There are alternative options such as taking a vision test from an approved provider, whose results can be sent directly to the DMV. The state has a lookup portal for locating approved providers.
If a driver opts for a provider outside the DMV registry, they must complete and submit a Vision Test Report (form MV619), available on the DMV website.
Drivers who are stopped by police while driving with a suspended license could face a fine or, if stopped again, jail time.