Jon Campbell

@JonCampbellGAN

ALBANY - New York's top court has upheld rules allowing New York to permanently revoke the license of repeat drunk drivers, ruling Tuesday that they don't run afoul of state law.

The state Court of Appeals ruled 5-0 in favor of keeping the rules intact, allowing the state Department of Motor Vehicles to continue its policy of denying any applications to reinstate driving privileges for the worst repeat offenders.

Three New York residents with repeat drunk driving offenses had sued the state, arguing the policy was overreaching and improperly applied.

"We decline to disturb the (DMV) Commissioner's informed and reasonable determination, made pursuant to an express delegation of authority and falling well within DMV's unique area of expertise," Judge Michael Garcia of Irvington, Westchester County, wrote in the ruling.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration implemented the tougher DMV rules in 2012 as a way to crack down on driving while intoxicated offenses.

The regulations require the DMV commissioner to deny any applications for re-instating a license if the driver has at least five alcohol- or drug-related driving convictions in their lifetime, or at least three convictions in the last 25 years and one other serious driving offense.

More than 13,600 applications have been denied since 2012, according to Cuomo's office.

"This unanimous and unequivocal ruling affirms this policy, which will help us continue our work to protect New Yorkers and prevent avoidable tragedies once and for all," Cuomo said in a statement.