If you Receive a Traffic Ticket
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We can help you fight a ticket to avoid fines, points and increased insurance premiums
Failure to answer a ticket in the time allowed, will result in the suspension of your driver license. In addition, you could be found guilty of the charge due to your failure to respond, and a fine imposed (This is know as a default conviction). An additional suspension would be imposed for failure to pay the fine and a judgment would be entered against you.
Driving with a suspended license is a crime under New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law § 511, which could result in a misdemeanor or felony conviction and expose you to fines of up to $5,000.00, jail, probation, and even the confiscation of your vehicle. The penalties increase as the number of suspensions you have increases. Each ticket ignored, and each fine not paid counts as a seperate suspension.
A guilty plea or conviction after trial or hearing can lead to the suspension and revocation of your driver license
- Three Speeding and/ or Misdemeanor traffic violations will result in the revocation of your driver license for at least six months
- Any two moving violations committed during the six month probation period for newly licensed drivers will result in a 60 day license suspension. A single conviction for Speeding, reckless driving, tailgating, racing or other more serious traffic violations will also lead to a 60 day suspension.
- Points — Most traffic violations carry points. Points will be added to your driving record as of the date that the violation occurred, not the date you are convicted. If you accumultate 11 or more iolation points in any 18-month period, your license can be suspended or revoked.
Common Violation Points
| VIOLATION | POINTS |
|---|---|
| Speeding (MPH over posted limit) | |
| - 1 to 10 | 3 |
| - 11 to 20 | 4 |
| - 21 to 30 | 6 |
| - 31 to 40 | 8 |
| - Over 40 | 11 |
| Reckless driving | 5 |
| Failure to stop for school bus | 5 |
| Following too closely (tailgating) | 4 |
| Failure to yield right-of-way | 3 |
| Disobeying a traffic control device (e.g. traffic light/signal, Stop or Yield sign) | 3 |
| Railroad crossing violation | 3 |
| Improper passing, unsafe lane change | 3 |
| Leaving the scene of an accident with property damage | 3 |
| Child safety restraint violation | 3 |
| Seatbelt | 3 |
| Cell phone/texting | 5 |
| Any other moving violation | 2 |
Driver Responsibility Act
Additionally, accumulating 6 points within an 18-month period would result in the assessment of a $300.00 surcharge against you by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. If you receive more than 6 points on your driving record during a period of 18 months, the annual assessment is $25 for each point in addition to the original six points
Point Reduction
By enrolling and successfully completing a New York State approved Driver Point & Insurance Reduction Program, you may be eligible for both an insurance discount and the removal of up to four points from your driving record.
Reckless Driving
Reckless Driving is a serious charge. It's a misdemeanor (crime) covered by § 1212 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law. If you are convicted:
- You face up to a year in jail
- Fines of up to $300.00 for 1st offenders, substantially higher fines for multiple offenders
- You will have a criminal record
- 5 points will be assessed against your NY driving record
- You may face an insurance premium increase
The court also has the authority to suspend your drivers license while the charges are pending pursuant to Vehicle and Traffic Law § 510.
The NYS Department of Motor Vehicles considers this a “Serious Traffic Infraction”. If you hold a Commercial Driver’s License conviction for 2 or more “Serious Traffic Infraction” in a 3 year period results in a 60 day suspension, 3 convictions in the same period results in a 120 day suspension.
