Record Manhattan Lap Would Net 857 Points On A Driver's License

After yesterday's video of a new record for fastest lap around Manhattan, Alex Roy, the former record holder, provided us with this list of 151 moving violations — for 857 theoretical points — he claims he would have received had he been caught in 2001. That's enough to have his license suspended almost 78 times.

There's a reason why the two guys in the Saturn Sky from the record-setting lap video we exclusively showed you yesterday chose to remain anonymous: White-and-blue cars with little lights on top. New York, like other states, records different levels of points for various traffic offenses. Despite the driver of the record-setting Manhattan lap waiting a year before posting the video in order to allow for the statute of limitations to expire on moving violations, and thereby making it out seemingly unscathed, there are serious consequences for drivers if anything goes wrong or you're spotted by the police.

Here's what the New York DMV has to say about it:

Most traffic violations carry violation points. The points will be added to your record using the date the violation occurred, not the date you are found guilty. If your violation points in any 18-month period add up to 11 or more, your license may be revoked or suspended following a hearing.

Just 11 points, eh? In Alex's run, he would have hit that mark in the first two miles of the 24.48 mile lap around New York's phallic central borough.

As you can see in the color-coded chart Roy put together, and provided exclusively to Jalopnik, speeding is the most obvious and most costly ticket (11 points for over 40 mph over the speed limit) but there are some other, more interesting penalties. Drifting or apexing is considered an "improper lane change" and will net the driver three points. Running a red light is also three points for "failure to obey traffic signals."

The most common penalty? Reckless driving, for, well, reckless driving.

Roy, for his part, seems unperturbed by someone grabbing his Manhattan record.

"Records were meant to be broken. Certain feats require something other than a brute force approach, which is what differentiates hooning from stunts," Roy told us. "Passion is merely the beginning. Safety, planning and professionalism get you to the finish.... FYI, I'll be staying off the FDR early weekday mornings!"

Good advice for anyone.


Driver sets new record for fastest lap around Manhattan

When illicit speed racer Alex Roy circled the Island of Manhattan in 2001 he set the known record for fastest time at 27 minutes while reaching speeds of 144 mph over the 24.48 mile distance. For legal reasons, he never released the tape. A new driver's now done it in 26:03. Here's the video. More "


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