NewsAugust 12, 20240 comments

10 Things Most Drivers Don’t Know About New York City Traffic Tickets and Speeding Violations

If you live in New York or are from out of town, you know that summer is when everyone takes to the highway. People tend to speed up during this time of year, as they don’t have the snow and ice slowing them down.

Also, sightseeing and vacationing lend a carefree spirit when traveling. However, this spirit can cause people to forget their troubles and get into another type of trouble – primarily ignoring the posted speed signs.

Although drivers commit speeding violations year-round, authorities give out most tickets during the summer. However, authorities don’t always charge speeding ticket recipients correctly. That’s why you must contact a traffic ticket attorney if you get a ticket for speeding or another traffic violation.

If you have any questions about a ticket, In that case, the DMV can usually give you further details about where your ticket is answerable – either the court or the Traffic Violations Bureau in New York City. If you contact a New York traffic ticket attorney, you’ll find that things will go much easier.

Schedule a Free Initial Consultation Today!

10 Facts About Speeding and Traffic Tickets that You’ll Want to Know If You Drive in New York

The Police Currently Use the Latest Innovative Radar and Laser Devices

In New York, state troopers use devices that employ directional sensing radar or a laser beam to detect a motorist’s speed.

The laser beam measures about three feet across at a distance of 1,000 feet. The police can confirm the speed of a vehicle, even during congested traffic conditions. Operators can use these precision instruments and usually reap precise readings for measuring speed.

You Can Get a Speeding Ticket – Even If the Police Aren’t Present

In addition to the devices mentioned above, other technologies assess vehicle speed. For example, authorities use cameras to catch speeding drivers.

A speed radar camera photographs vehicles traveling over the posted speed. Besides the speed, the camera also captures the time of the incident and its location.

Aerial Devices Can Catch You Going Over the Posted Speed

When authorities use aircraft, the device tracks the time a car travels between two marked locations. Ground officers receive notifications about who issued the speeding violation in these instances.

Speeders Can Face Large Fines – Even If They’re Driving Slightly Over the Posted Speed

Front view of judge's gavel and money banknotes over a white background with the text "FINE!" written in bold.

You can face fines of $150 even if you go less than 10 miles per hour over the posted speed. In these instances, the penalty might surprise you.

The fine can double if you drive from 11 to 30 miles per hour over the speed limit.

Moreover, the fine can quadruple if you go 31 miles per hour or over. In these cases, you might pay as much as $600.

Fines for tickets double in school zones.

When school is in session, the fine you pay for a speeding ticket doubles. Plus, you’re assessed a surcharge of $80.00 to $85.00.

You Can Get Fined If You’re Driving Too Slow

New York enforces a traffic law violation covering people driving within the speed limit. But are going too slow for what is considered safe. This violation is known as “speed not reasonable and prudent.”

This criterion may serve as grounds for a ticket of $150 plus the added surcharge of $80 to $85. If you’re going too slow or not going with the traffic flow, you may get pulled over and get a ticket.

Getting a Ticket is Not a Crime, But Certain Traffic Violations are Crimes and May Lead to a Ticket

When you receive a traffic ticket, you haven’t been found guilty of a crime. A traffic ticket is a violation of the traffic law. However, certain traffic violations are crimes, and the offender may also receive a ticket. Examples of traffic offenses that are also considered crimes include DUI, reckless driving, hit-and-run, and vehicular homicide.

Tickets Cover Both Moving and Nonmoving Violations, But Moving Violations are More Serious

Speeding tickets cover moving violations, as does running a red light. Tickets for non-moving violations include parking tickets, faulty equipment (such as a broken taillight), or unlawful window tinting.

You can challenge speeding tickets, so seek help from a traffic ticket attorney.

You can save money on insurance by challenging a ticket and having it dismissed, which you can achieve in several ways. To ensure success, you should seek help from a traffic ticket attorney. They know all about the court system in New York and can defend and argue your case.

An attorney may ask questions such as:

Was the speed-measuring instrument maintained properly?
A faster vehicle passed you when the police pulled you over.
Was the speeding citation filled out correctly?
Is this your first traffic ticket?

Getting legal help gives you a better chance to argue your case successfully.

Just Because It’s Easier to Pay a Ticket Doesn’t Mean It’s a Good Move – If You’re Not Guilty Because of a Mistake of Fact, You Need to Contest the Ticket

If you have evidence that you did not violate the speed limit, such as dash cam footage or GPS info, you must contact a traffic ticket lawyer.

In other cases, you might receive a citation for speeding or running a stop sign due to a factual mistake. Let’s look at two examples.

At the time of the incident, you noticed that another driver was swerving in and out of lanes, and you speeded up to avoid getting in the driver’s way. This may have led to a speeding ticket, but you were speeding for safety reasons.

Maybe you have regularly driven down a road and did not notice they installed a stop sign at one of the intersections. In this instance, you will not be guilty of running the sign if someone put it up the previous day. You can compare the time of the sign’s installation to when you received the ticket.

Contact a Traffic Ticket Attorney Right Away

Did police pull you over for speeding, but you believe you didn’t break the speed limit, or you received a traffic ticket that you believe was a mistake? If so, consult a traffic ticket attorney. Even if you’re guilty, you must protect and preserve your rights. Contact a New York criminal defense lawyer about your ticket today.