Why doesn't Employee Advantage allow registration online or via credit card or PayPal?
We have not raised our prices in two decades. Although credit card or PayPal would add some convenience, it would raise the price of our classes by several dollars. In these challenging economic times when everyone seems to be raising their prices, we would like to be the exception. Given a choice, we think most of you would rather pay less and keep the money inyour pocket! If you think that paying more in order to avoid having to mail in a check is worth it, send us an e-mail. Let us know. Customer satisfaction really means a lot to us!
My auto insurance is due this week. I need a class right away to get a discount, don't I?
Not necessarily. Go ahead and pay your auto insurance. Once you take a DMV authorized defensive driving class (like ours, or some of our competitors) you will get mailed a certificate of completion. You have 90 days to send or fax a copy of your certificate to your auto insurance agent or company. Your discount is retroactive to the date you took the class. Your discount will be issued as a refund check.
I clicked on your competitor's advertisements on your web page. They charge $50 to $75 for their defensive driving classes. Is there a difference between the classes?
We think so. Our classes are more interesting, more educational, more up to date, lower cost, and include free refreshments and often lunch as well. We strive to exceed our clients' expectations. All these classes are 6 hours, by law. Get a boring instructor, or a dry class, and those 6 hours could feel like 12 hours! The customer feedback listed at our website is real. You will see the difference if you've taken this class elsewhere, then take ours. That's why our customers come back every 3 years! If our classes don't fill up, we lose money at these prices. But almost all of our classes fill up! We love it!
I am not an employee of the facilities at which you offer classes. Can I still register as a non-employee at the discounted rate listed?
Yes. If a class is listed here, then there are a limited number of seats open to the public at the discounted rates. Once those seats are reserved, we will post a note directly under that course listing saying that the class is filled.
Why don't you offer classes more frequently?
We have some new instructors coming on board, but we want them properly trained in the latest techniques that keep our classes a cut above. We enjoy teaching these classes. But if we teach too many too frequently, it can become work! If it's fun for us, it's far more likely to be fun for you!
Why do you seldom have classes during the Summer months?
Let us be honest. The Summer months are hot, and not many people want to sit in a hot classroom. So Summer classes are hard to find. Take one, and then you'll have the same problem finding one when you're due to take the class again in 3 years. And to be brutally honest, our instructors would rather be water skiing, sailing, or on vacation with their families. When we teach a class, it's fun for us. If it's fun for us, you're also much more likely to enjoy our classes. That's important to us.
You encourage early registration to reserve a seat in your class. What if something comes up, and I have to cancel?
Go ahead and reserve your seat. If something comes up, all we ask is that you call us at (718)637-3934 to let us know at least 48 hours in advance. Typically, for a weekend class, we need notification by the Thursday before the weekend. At your request, you can receive either a full credit for a future class, or a full refund. Late cancellations, or no-call/ no-shows will not receive a refund, but will be permitted to register for a future class (must be one of the next 3 classes scheduled after the date of missed class) for a $15 re-registration fee instead of the full course price.
I am required to take a defensive driving 6-hour course to meet requirements as a New York City Taxi & Limosine Commission driver. Do I need a special certificate?
Yes. You will need a special certificate of attendance that has a corporate seal and meets TLC standards. We offer that certificate. There is a $3 charge, and the certificate will be issued promptly upon course completion.
Can I just pay the fees without attending your class?
Ummm.... NO; that's insurance fraud. We don't look good in orange jumpsuits. You may not either. Getting arrested can ruin an otherwise nice week.
I don't have my license yet. Will taking your course qualify me for the NYS DMV license exam?
No. Many people confuse our 6 hour class (which qualifies participants with a three year insurance discount and reduction of violation points) with the 5 hour pre-license class that is offered by many driving schools. They are different classes by DMV standards.
My son/daughter is new to driving. I want them to learn safe driving techniques, but they don't need a certificate. How much would it be for them to take your class?
Free. We're so happy to have any young driver who wants to learn safety. So, if they want to attend our class, but don't need a certificate of completion, there is no cost! It's on us!
INFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What do I do if I've taken your class and have not yet received my certificate of completion?
In the unlikely event that you have not received your certificate of completion, call us at 718 637-3934.
The bulk of the following information is taken from the New York State Dept of Motor Vehicles web site (link to DMV site provided below):
Cell Phones + Driving = Dangerous
New York State has passed a law that does not allow you to use a hand-held mobile telephone while you drive. If you use a hand-held mobile telephone while you drive (except to call 911 or to contact medical, fire or police personnel about an emergency), you can receive a traffic ticket and pay a fine of $120. Additional mandatory surcharges may also apply.
Taking your car off the road for a while?
You can prevent the suspension of your registration and driver license if you surrender your vehicle plates to the DMV before your liability insurance lapses.
You are not required to surrender your vehicle plates for a suspension of 90 days or shorter if you pay a civil penalty. You cannot use the civil penalty option if the lapse is longer than 90 days or if you used this option in the past 3 years.
The civil penalty amounts shown below are the amounts for suspensions that take effect on or after October 1, 2005. The civil penalty amount is:
- $8 per day for each day of the lapse from day 1 through day 30, and
- $10 per day for each day of the lapse from day 31 through day 60, and
- $12 per day for each day of the lapse from day 61 through day 90.
- After 90 days, your driver’s license is suspended.
If I get a ticket for a moving violation in another state, do I receive points on my NYS driver license?
The NYSDMV does not record out-of-state violations committed by NYS drivers in other jurisdictions. The exceptions are alcohol-related violations, drug-related violations, and moving violations committed in Quebec or Ontario. Under special agreements, traffic convictions in Quebec or Ontario arerecorded on NYS driver license records and carry points. Except for violations in Ontario and Quebec, points are not added to your NYS record for out-of-state violations.
If you do not respond to a ticket or fail to pay a fine for a moving violation that you committed in any state except Alaska, California, Michigan, Montana, Oregon or Wisconsin, the DMV suspends your NYS driver license until you respond to the ticket or pay the fine. If a driver from a state (except these six states) fails to respond to a traffic ticket issued in NYS, their driver license will be suspended until the driver responds to the traffic ticket in NYS.
What is the seat belt law in New York State?
New York State law requires all front seat passengers to wear seat belts. Children under the age of 16 must wear seat belts when they are in the front seat or the back seat. Children under the age of four must ride in safety seats. Children age four, five or six must ride in child restraint systems. The penalty for a seat belt or car seat violation is a fine of $120. If a conviction includes a person under the age of 16, the driver receives a fine of $120 and 3 violation points on his/her driver's license record.
Employee Advantage LLC note: What is legal to do, and what is smart to do, are often two different things. If you don't wear your seatbelts because you don't care about getting killed or paralyzed, don't do that to your loved ones. Don't relegate them to a lifetime of feeding you, toileting you, etc. day after day.
An unbelted adult in the back seat becomes a flying "stupid-hero" during sudden high speed impacts. What is the difference between a bag of cement in the back seat and an unbelted adult? Perhaps intelligence.
Can I take a defensive driving course to keep from losing my driver’s license?
An accident prevention course cannot prevent a mandatory suspension or revocation.
I’ve been a good driver. I don’t have any violation points. Can I receive a credit against future violations if I take a defensive driving course?
You cannot use the course as a credit against future driver violation points. You would still be eligible for the insurance discount, however.
I have violation points I want reduced, but also want the insurance discount. Can I get both by taking a qualified defensive driving course?
Yes. Completion of one of our Defensive Driving classes entitles you to BOTH an insurance discount AND point reduction. There is no extra cost for this at our classes. Part of our class instruction explains how to get both.
New York State Driver Violation Point System
The DMV driver violation point system helps to identify drivers who commit several traffic violations during a specific time period.
Remember that the point system is not the only reason for a driver license suspension or revocation. There are mandatory suspensions or revocations. For example, the DMV must revoke your driver license if you are convicted of three speeding violations within an 18-month period, regardless of how many driver violation points you have.
This table lists the number of points given for specific traffic violations. This information is only a guide and is subject to change and revision.
| Article | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding | 1 to 10 mph over limit | 3 points |
| Speeding | 11 to 20 mph over limit | 4 points |
| Speeding | 21 to 30 mph over limit | 6 points |
| Speeding | 31 to 40 mph over limit | 8 points |
| Speeding | Over 40 mph over limit | 11 points |
| Texting | Texting While Driving | 5 points |
| Article | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 319 | Uninsured Motorist (Mandatory Revocation) | |
| 375 (1) | Inadequate Brakes (Misdemeanor offense) | 4 points |
| 375 (3) | Failure to Dim Headlights | 2 points |
| 375 (29a) | Improper Towing/More Than One Vehicle | 2 points |
| 375 (29c) | Connection Longer Than 16 Feet | 2 points |
| 375 (29d) | No Licensed Driver in Towed Vehicle | 2 points |
| 381 (1a) | Inadequate Brakes- Motorcycle | 4 points |
| 600 | Leaving the Scene of an Accident | 3 points |
| 1102 | Failure to Comply with a Lawful Order | 2 points |
| 1110 (a) | Failure to Obey Traffic Control Device | 2 points |
| 1110 (a)(1) | Passed Green Arrow | 3 points |
| 1111 (d)(1) | Passed Red Light | 3 points |
| 1111 (a)(1) | Passed Red Arrow | 3 points |
| 1120 (a) | Failure to Keep Right | 3 points |
| 1122 | Improper Lane Change | 3 points |
| 1122-a | Overtaking a Bicycle | 3 points |
| 1123 (b) | Left Pavement to Pass on Right | 3 points |
| 1124 | Unsafe Passing | 3 points |
| 1125 (a)1 | Drove to Left on Hillcrest or Curve | 3 points |
| 1127 (a) | Drove Wrong Way on a One Way Street | 3 points |
| 1128 (a) | Unsafe Lane Change | 3 points |
| 1129 (a) | Following Too Closely (Tailgating) | 4 points |
| 1140 | Failure to Yield Right of Way at Intersection | 3 points |
| 1141 | Failure to Yield Right of Way--Oncoming Traffic | 3 points |
| 1143 | Failure to Yield Right of Way--Pedestrians | 3 points |
| 1163 | Failure to Signal Lane Change | 2 points |
| 1172 | Failure to Stop for a School Bus | 5 points |
| 1174 | Failure to Stop at Stop Sign or Flashing Red Light | 3 points |
| 1180 (a) | Unreasonable/Imprudent Speed | 3 points |
| 1180 (b) | Speeding | |
| 1 - 10 mph over speed limit | 3 points | |
| 11 - 20 mph over speed limit | 4 points | |
| 21 - 30 mph over speed limit | 6 points | |
| 31 - 40 mph over speed limit (possible suspension) | 8 points | |
| More than 40 mph over speed limit (possible suspension) | 11 points | |
| 1212 | Reckless Driving (Misdemeanor Offense) | 5 points |
| 1225(c) | Improper Cell Phone Use | 5 points |
| Article | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1226 | No Hands on Wheel or Steering Device | 2 points |
| 1229 (c)(3) | No Seat Belt/Driver | 0 points |
| 1229 (c)(2) | Safety Restraint Violation Person Under 16 | 3 points |
| Other Moving Violations | 2 points |
Out-of-State-Convictions - If you are convicted of a traffic violation in another state or country, points are not added to your New York State driving record, unless the violation occurred in Ontario or Quebec.
New York State has a reciprocal agreement with Quebec and Ontario. Traffic violation convictions that occur in these provinces are recorded on your New York State driver record, and the convictions have the same effect and carry the same points as convictions that occur in New York State. This can affect your driver violation point total and Driver Responsibility Assessment.