Case Name: In the Matter of Charles S. Dickman, Respondent, v. James P. Melton, as Commissioner of Department of Motor Vehicles of State of New York, Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1979-07-06
Citations: 71 A.D.2d 809
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of Charles S. Dickman, Respondent, v James P. Melton, as Commissioner of Department of Motor Vehicles of State of New York, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 71
Pages: 809–809

Head Matter:
In the Matter of Charles S. Dickman, Respondent, v James P. Melton, as Commissioner of Department of Motor Vehicles of State of New York, Appellant.

Opinion:
Judgment unanimously reversed, without costs, and petition dismissed. Memorandum: Appellant, the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles, appeals from a judgment of Special Term which nullified his revocation of respondent's operator's license pursuant to section 510 (subd 3, par [d]) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, which provides for revocation for persistent traffic violations. Special Term's decision was based on the ground that respondent's license had already been revoked by a town Justice Court pursuant to section 510 (subd 2, par a, cl [iv]) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law following conviction of a third traffic misdemeanor within a period of 18 months. Appellant contends that the prior revocation by the court mandated by section 510 (subd 2, par a, cl [iv]) of the Vehicle and Traffic Law does not preclude the commissioner's subsequent permissive revocation. We agree. The Court of Appeals has held that the imposition of mandatory criminal revocation and of discretionary administrative revocation of the same license for the same infractions is lawful (see Matter of Barnes v Tofany, 27 NY2d 74). The reversal of two of respondent's reckless driving convictions does not affect the commissioner's determination. The determination was supported by substantial evidence (see 300 Gramatan Ave. Assoc, v State Div. of Human Rights, 45 NY2d 176, 181). (Appeal from judgment of Erie Supreme Court—art 78.) Present—Hancock, Jr., J. P., Schnepp, Callahan, Doerr and Witmer, JJ.