Question: When should I not pay a NYC traffic ticket?
You should not pay a NYC traffic ticket without first understanding whether payment means pleading guilty and what points, fines, insurance, or license consequences may follow.
Paying a NYC traffic ticket may seem like the easiest way to end the problem, but for a moving violation it can mean accepting a conviction.
Key Things to Know:
Before paying, check the point value, whether the ticket is answerable to TVB, whether it affects insurance, whether you have prior points, whether you have a CDL or junior license, and whether the ticket could trigger suspension or a Driver Responsibility Assessment. Parking and camera tickets are different from officer-issued moving violations.
If the ticket is a point-carrying moving violation, review the consequences before paying. A quick guilty plea can become expensive later.