[ NY City Population ]  [ Area ]  [ Highest Point ]  [ Lowest Point ]  [ Time Zone ]  [ Minimum Age for Drivers ]
[ Seat Belt/ Child Restraint Laws ]  [ Helmets for Motorcyclists ]  [ Radar Detectors ]  [ Firearms Laws ]
[ Holidays ]  [ Taxes ]  [ State Information Centers ] [ NY Convention and Visitor Bureau ]

NY City Population: 7,333,300 (in 1998)

Area: 49,576 square miles; ranks 30th.

Highest Point: 5,344 ft., Mount March.

Lowest Point: Sea level, Atlantic Ocean.

Time Zone: Eastern. DST.

Minimum Age For Drivers: Minimum driving age is 16 with restrictions, 18 without.  In New York City no one under 18 may drive.

Minimum Age For Gambling: 18

Seat Belt/ Child Restraint Laws: Seat Belts required for driver, front-seat passengers and back-seat passengers under 10.  Child restraints required for under 4.

Helmets For Motorcyclists: Required.

Radar Detectors: Permitted.

Firearms Laws: Vary by state and/or county.  Contact the New York State Police Headquarters, Building 22, State Campus, Albany, NY 12226; phone (518) 457-6811

Holidays: Jan. 1; Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Jan. (3rd Mon.): Lincoln's Birthday, Feb. (1st Mon.); Washington's Birthday, Feb. (3rd Mon.); Memorial Day, May (last Mon.); July 4; Labor Day, Sept. (1st Mon.); Columbus Day, Oct. (2nd Mon.); Election Day, Nov.; Veterans Day, Nov. 11; Thanksgiving; Dec. 25.

Taxes: New York's statewide sales tax is 4 percent, with local options for additional increments of up to 4.5 percent.  Localities may impose taxes on lodgings, admissions or restaurant meals.  New York City imposes a 13.25 percent plus $2 room tax as well as additional sums depending on the room rate.

State Information Centers: On/ near the New York State Thruway open daily year-round: Sloatsburg N.; Harriman exit 16; Castskill exit 21; New Baltimore N. and S.; Utica exit 31; Seneca W.; and Grand Island Blvd. exit 18A N. Centers open daily, May-Oct.: Newburgh exit 17; Plattekill N.; westbound Pattersonville, Warners, Schuyler and Clarence; Angola E. and W.; Westfilled exit 60; Ripley exit 61; and pembroke E. State Gateway Information Centers open daily Year-round; Binghamton rest area N.; Thousand Island International Bridge S. and Beekmantown rest area (Adirondack Northway) S.

New York Convention & Visitors Bureau
New York Convention & Visitors Bureau operates an information center at 2 Columbus Cir. (jct. Eighth Ave., 59th Street and Broadway).  Maps in six languages, calendars of events, guides to hotels, restaurants and shopping and guides to each of the five boroughs are available free.
Phone: (212) 397-8200
Link to New York Convention & Visitor Bureau

Revised: 1999/01/10