We are often asked the question: “How Much is a Speeding ticket in NY?”. The literal answer for a first conviction is that a New York state speeding fine costs between $45 and $600. For speeding 1 to 10 mph over the limit the range is $45 to $150. For speeding 11 mph to 30 mph, the range is $90 to $300. Finally, for speeding 31 mph or more, the range is $180 to $600. For a second speeding conviction, the maximum fine can be increased by up to $150 and for a third, it can be increased by up to $375.
Of course, these ranges of fines do not include the $88-$93 additional New York State speeding fine surcharged imposed on all moving violations. Additionally, it does not include the Driver Assessment Fee that is imposed on motorists who accumulate 6 or more points on their licenses. This fee is $300 for 6 points and $75 for every point above 6.
However, there are many other NY speeding ticket costs. For example, it is not widely known (or enforced) but a judge can also impose up to 15 days in jail for a speeding 1 to 10 mph speeding ticket, and up to 30 days for 11+ mph speeding ticket.
New York Speeding Ticket Fines and Points
On the other hand, most of you know that speeding tickets result in points being added to your driver license. In the state of New York, a speeding ticket carries a total of 3 to 11 points. Below is an overview of NY speeding ticket points:
Speeding 1 to 10 MPH: 3 points
Speeding 11 to 20 MPH: 4 points
Speeding 21 to 30 MPH: 6 points
Speeding 31 to 40 MPH: 8 points
Speeding 41+ MPH: 11 points
Beyond the points, another speeding ticket cost is that it can result in a license suspension or revocation. Some judges will suspend a motorist for just one 8-point or 11-point speeding ticket conviction. Some will suspend for two speeding convictions. The DMV can suspend your license if you accumulate 11 or more points within 18 months (from speeding convictions or otherwise). Finally, three speeding convictions within 18 months will result in an automatic and mandatory 6-month revocation of driver’s license.
Another cost of a speeding ticket conviction involves your automobile insurance rates. By law, a New York insurance company cannot raise your rates for one speeding conviction of 15 mph above the limit (or less) if you have an otherwise clean record. For a higher speeding ticket or multiple convictions, however, your auto insurance rates can be hiked. The only option to address a hike is to take the Driver Safety Class that takes 10% off your insurance rates.
As you can see, there are many NY speeding ticket costs. You, therefore, should always be aware of speed limits and heed your speedometer. For 20+ years, our NYC law firm has helped thousands of motorists each year fight their traffic tickets throughout New York State and keep their licenses as clean as possible. Feel free to call us at 212-683-7373 or email us at lawyer@nytrafficticket.com for a free consultation.
2297 Comments. Leave new
Thank you so much for taking your time to maintain this website. I received a speeding ticket for 80 in 55. While giving me the ticket, the trooper recommended that I plead ‘not guility’. I just sent in my not guilty plea to the New Rochelle court. I understand I’m looking at a 6pt and fines associated with it. My questions are: 1. Does New Rochelle court allow plea bargain. 2. With recent changes to make 21+ offense more strict, do i have a chance for a reduced charge. 3. Having a CT license, if 6pt carries on how would it impact my license and insurance? I apologize for lengthy questions.
JC,
Thanks for your kind remarks. Your speeding ticket is an 6-point ticket that carries roughly a $200 fine plus a $300 Driver Assessment Fee. We, therefore, recommend that you plead not guilty and fight this ticket. If you do, you likely can save NY points, the $300 Driver Assessment Fee and avoid an insurance rate increase (assuming you have an otherwise clean record). New Rochelle Traffic Court will engage in a plea bargaining although it does not generally offer great deals. You’ll likely get offered a 3- or 4-point ticket which will save you the Driver Assessment Fee. A NY conviction will not transfer onto your CT license. It can, however, affect your CT insurance. Call your insurance company to see if it will adversely affect your rates.
Matthew Weiss
Thank you for your quick response. It’s unfortunate that the New Rochelle court tends to be strict. I guess I have to hope for the best. If there is a plea bargain which result in 3-4 pts, will taking the driver safety class get rid of the points? I’m a state employee and it’s important for me to have a clean driving record. I received a speeding ticket over 5 years ago in CT – will it have any impact when negotiating a plea deal?
Yes, the NY Driver Safety Class will remove up to 4 point off your license. It will also save you 10% off your auto insurance rates.
Matthew Weiss
Even if I take the driver safety course to remove 4pts, can the insurance company still raise rates based on the fact that I had 4 pts? Also, should I take the class before the pre-trial or wait for the outcome?
JC,
Take the class now as you’ll receive credit for your pending case. If you take the class, you’ll get 10% off your insurance but the class does not preclude your insurance company from otherwise raising your rates based on your ticket convictions.
Matthew Weiss
I am a Canadian citizen with an Ontario driver’s license, but I am a non resident. I got a speeding ticket 77mph in a 45mph zone in the state of New York when I was driving a rented vehicle after shopping in the States. I have sent the Amherst Town Court to plead guilty in mid Nov. However, they have sent me a letter recently that I have to attend the court on Mar 11 for this speeding ticket. So I call them to see if they had not received my letter to plead guilty, but the staff told me that the Judge did not accept my reason by speeding more than 32mph. Since I live and work in Hong Kong, what should I do? How much will I need to pay? Will it affect my Ontario driver’s license? It was the first time I received the traffic ticket, what will you recommend me to do?
Chlu,
Because points from New York transfer to Ontario, we recommend that you fight this speeding ticket. This is an 8-point ticket in New York and transfers as 6 demerit points in Ontario. It also carries roughly a $300 fine plus a $450 Driver Assessment Fee. It can adversely affect your insurance rates and even result in a suspension. If you fight this ticket, you can likely save points, money and avoid a possible insurance increase (assuming you have an otherwise clean record).
If you hire a New York traffic lawyer, then you will NOT have to appear in court. You should hire one that is familiar with the Ontario demerit point system.
Matthew Weiss
I have pleaded guilty by sending ticket back already. Could I still fight this ticket? If so, how much can I save in points, money, etc? Actually I don’t need to buy insurance in the near future, so the insurance increase may not affect me much though.
Chiu,
You should call the court immediately and ask to change your plea. Even though your auto insurance rates are not an issue, you should still fight this ticket so you likely can save NY points, Ontario demerit points and the $50 Driver Assessment Fee.
Matthew Weiss
Thank you for your prompt response. Two more questions:
1. Will it help me if I ask for a deposition or should I stick with what was given at the scene?
2. Would you recommend I hire a lawyer? (I understand you may provide a biased answer since it is your job to find clients, but do you think I will save money at the end if I asked a lawyer to represent me)
Thanks again,
Chow
Chow,
1. Will it help me if I ask for a deposition or should I stick with what was given at the scene? You only get one supporting deposition so don’t bother asking for another.
2. Would you recommend I hire a lawyer? (I understand you may provide a biased answer since it is your job to find clients, but do you think I will save money at the end if I asked a lawyer to represent me) You should definitely hire a NY traffic lawyer if you didn’t want to go to court (or couldn’t go to court). Otherwise, that is a personal decision that you can go either way. If you are not sure, contact one and get a free consultation.
Matthew Weiss
I was caught doing 92 on 65 on highway 17 in Village of Chester last Saturday morning by a State Police. When he asked me if I knew what I was pulled over for, I said I don’t know and he walked off with my license and rental agreement (I was driving a rental car). He came back and gave back my things plus the traffic ticket. He told me he’s ticketing me with the speeding (NYS V&T LAW Subsection 1180D) and also slipped in at the end that he slapped me with a Following too Closely violation (NYS V&T LAW Subsection 1129A).
So for my side of the story, I was driving on the highway heading upstate. The roads were fairly empty, a few cars here and there. I paid little attention to the odometer, but every now and then I’d look down and notice I’m in excess of 80mph and I’d slow down to 75 mph, but with so few cars on the road (I’m from NYC so I’m used to using other cars are a reference for how fast I’m going relative to traffic) it was very difficult to tell how fast I was really going unless I looked down at the odometer.
Finally after some time I look up at the rear view mirror and see a State trooper right on my tail. Terrified I change from the left lane to the right lane and to my horror the trooper follows and shortly after flashes me to pull over and I do right away. While pulling over/slowing to a stop, there was a vehicle in front of me and I’m guessing the trooper didn’t appreciate that and he slapped me with the tailgating plus the speeding, which was a shocker by itself stating that I was going 92 on a 65.
After going through several posts on your website here, it’s clear I should plead not guilty to get something more favorable. I’ve got a squeaky clean record, this was my very first time getting pulled over. My questions are as follows:
1. I read in a few places on the internet I should attempt to delay the court date for as much as possible. Should I try to do this and what are valid ways to go about delaying my court date?
2. It states that I should mail the ticket within 48 hours if I want to plead not guilty. I was pulled over Saturday noon and it is almost Monday night now and I haven’t mailed the ticket back, I probably won’t for another few days at least. Will this be an issue at all and how should I mail the ticket back (certified/first-class/other)?
3. Should I call the court clerk and what sort of questions/requests should I make if I do so as I’ve read in several places on the internet it was beneficial to make calls to clerks?
4. Since I have a totally clean record, what do you expect for someone in my position, after reading my side of the story? Any chance I can get rid of all potential points (I count 10 points for me if convicted, 6 for 27mph over the limit and 4 for tailgating). Or simply, what is the usual outcome for someone in my position from your experience? (I understand if this question contains too many variables, but even your best estimate can help me prepare for what to expect).
5. Finally, should I have witnesses and statements prepared, there were 6 other occupants in my vehicle while we were pulled over and we all had the same story in terms of what I’ve states above. How do I go about processing statements and witnesses.
Sorry if this query was very long, any help would be much obliged, everything I’ve read on this website has been excellent and I’d be very happy with any help you can provide and I’ll be sure to keep you posted in the future of the developments of my case.
Thank you in advance,
Chow
Chow,
Answers following each of your questions below.
1. I read in a few places on the internet I should attempt to delay the court date for as much as possible. Should I try to do this and what are valid ways to go about delaying my court date? No, just go on your court date and make a deal.
2. It states that I should mail the ticket within 48 hours if I want to plead not guilty. I was pulled over Saturday noon and it is almost Monday night now and I haven’t mailed the ticket back, I probably won’t for another few days at least. Will this be an issue at all and how should I mail the ticket back (certified/first-class/other)? You don’t worry about the 48 hour deadline as long as you get your not guilty plea in as soon as possible. If you are going to be delayed, then call the court and let them know it’s coming.
3. Should I call the court clerk and what sort of questions/requests should I make if I do so as I’ve read in several places on the internet it was beneficial to make calls to clerks? Just plead not guilty and get a date.
4. Since I have a totally clean record, what do you expect for someone in my position, after reading my side of the story? Any chance I can get rid of all potential points (I count 10 points for me if convicted, 6 for 27mph over the limit and 4 for tailgating). Or simply, what is the usual outcome for someone in my position from your experience? (I understand if this question contains too many variables, but even your best estimate can help me prepare for what to expect). I doubt that you’ll get 0 points from 10 but it would be reason to get 4 to 6 points.
5. Finally, should I have witnesses and statements prepared, there were 6 other occupants in my vehicle while we were pulled over and we all had the same story in terms of what I’ve states above. How do I go about processing statements and witnesses? Witness statements are not admissible. If you ultimately end up taking your case to trial, then you’ll have to bring your witnesses to court.
Matthew Weiss
I was pulled over doing 94mph in a 65mph speed zone. I was on i88 on schoharie county, 4 hours away from where I reside, bronx ny. This is also my first offense, and in my defense I was just about to run out of gas and I was just trying to get to a gas station ASAP. What should I do? Am I looking at a heavy fine here?
Kenny,
This is an 6-point ticket that carries roughly a $200 fine plus a $300 Driver Assessment Fee. It can also adversely affect your insurance rates. We, therefore, recommend that you plead not guilty and fight this ticket. If you do, you likely can save NY points, the $300 Driver Assessment Fee and avoid an insurance rate increase (assuming you have an otherwise clean record).
Matthew Weiss
I was just pulled over an hour before for speeding in Buffalo, NY. I was going 57MPH (as per the radar) on a 35MPH Zone. The office asked me if I knew why he pulled me for and I said no. But when he said I was going 57MPH on a 35MPH I said “I didn’t realize I was that fast”. Did I make a mistake by saying that? I actually didn’t want to plead guilty then but I was really nervous since this was the first time I was pulled over and made that statement. The office however, did say that since I have a clean record I should appear in court for the ticket. Do I have any chance if I plead not guilty?
Amol,
Yes, you have an excellent chance to obtain a more favorable result if you plead not guilty as long as your speeding ticket is not returnable at the Buffalo Traffic Violations Bureau. Your statement can be used against you at trial, but will not prevent you from negotiating a plea bargain.
Matthew Weiss
I got a ticket for going 61 in a 40 from an Otsego County Sherriff’s officer who caught me on radar, so I was definitely speeding. I didn’t realize I was going that fast, but I was, so I deserve the ticket. I was in an accident a few months ago but was not given a ticket, so my driver’s license was clean until this speeding ticket. The trouble is that I’m terrified of going to court (an irrational fear, but real for me nonetheless). Will it do any good to plead guilty but fill in the “statement of explanation”? Is it possible that, since I was only 2 mph into the “20+ mph over the limit” that they could show some leniency if I do that? Even bumping the charge down one level would be so helpful.
Marti,
You should definitely plead not guilty and fight this speeding ticket. If you do, you likely can save points and money. Because you are terrified of going to court, I recommend that you retain a New York traffic lawyer who can appear for you.
Matthew Weiss
Hello Matthew,
I am a Canadian citizen with a driver’s license in Ontario. I got a speeding ticket 78mph in a 65mph zone in I-86 EB in the state of New York. I have read several threads on this matter but would like some clarification from you.
What are the demerit points involved in Ontario, Canada?
What would the fine total to in dollars?
Is it better to (1) call the District Attorney at the Campbell Town Court to try and reduce the speeding ticket to a parking ticket or (2) to sign the actual speeding ticket as NOT guilty & attend court date to reduce it then?
If they request for a Driver’s Abstract from Ontario, how many years do they need (3, 5, & 10) .. also, do I need to send this along with my NOT guilty plea on the original speeding ticket.
Lastly, what would be your best advice if you were in my situation?
I do appreciate your feedback.
Canadian Driver,
Answers below in bold following your questions.
What are the demerit points involved in Ontario, Canada? 3-demerit points in Ontario (and 4 NY points) for this ticket.
What would the fine total to in dollars? Roughly $200.
Is it better to (1) call the District Attorney at the Campbell Town Court to try and reduce the speeding ticket to a parking ticket or (2) to sign the actual speeding ticket as NOT guilty & attend court date to reduce it then? Try calling first but, if that doesn’t work then you or your traffic lawyer should appear in court to try and negotiate this down to a less serious charge.
If they request for a Driver’s Abstract from Ontario, how many years do they need (3, 5, & 10)? Three years or whatever you can get should be fine.
Do I need to send this along with my NOT guilty plea on the original speeding ticket? No, this gets shown to the DA (not the court).
Lastly, what would be your best advice if you were in my situation? Compare the Ontario demerit system to New York’s point system so you can see what offense Ontario does NOT assign points. Try and negotiate your case to a 0-demerit point result.
Good luck.
Matthew Weiss
Thank you for your response Matthew.
I have sent in my plea of not guilty and received a response from the town court. It indicates on their reply that if I wish to speak to the District Attorney prior to going to trial and to follow all their directions.
Any suggestions as to what I should say (i.e. I have a clean record, ask for a reduction form)? How does it usually work?
Thanks again!
Canadian Driver,
Yes, you should definitely emphasize your clean record and any other mitigating factors (examples potentially are that there was no accident, that your speed was that high, and/or that you were unfamiliar with the car).
Matthew Weiss
Hi Im 18 and just got pulled over today my my first ever speeding ticket. I got pulled over on i88 the state trooper that pulled me over was driving by me on the other side of the road and soon caught up to me and pulled me over. He then gave me a ticket for doing 75 in a 65. I know I should fight it. But what’s the best way to reduced the fine as much as I can? I was told by some people who know state police and such that tell me to get a accruate reading the cop has to be sitting still and they have to be sitting at a certain angle. What the best way to get out of this? Thanks for any help
Tyler,
You should plead not guilty. If you do, the court will schedule a date for your to appear. On that date, you can likely negotiate this charge down to a less serious charge.
Good luck.
Matthew Weiss
Hi it’s Tyler again. I guess it’s not my week. I was driving to my girlfriends house for dinner and this state trooper goes by me and has a HEADLIGHT out!! He comes and pulls me over because he said my licenses plate light was out. Is this even leagal? He tried hiding it because he turned his highbeams on when he pulled me over but then shut them off and turned his spot light on facing into my mirror so I could see so I looked back and sure enough his light was out. What can I do about this?
Tyler,
Ouch! Yes, it is illegal to drive with a broken license plate light. This is a 0-point ticket that carries roughly a $50 fine. If you fix it quickly, you likely can get this ticket dismissed. Ironically, it is also illegal for him to drive with a busted head light.
Matthew Weiss
Hi Matthew,
Thanks for allowing us to post/comment on your blog. I was recently pulled over for speeding. The Officer “estimated” my speed to be 81 mph based on his radar in a 50mph zone (FDR North bound). The moment I saw him in my rear view mirror, he was on the entrance ramp of 138th st, I know I was going 60-65 mph. Obviously I’m pleading Not Guilty but would appreciate your advice on this matter.
Regards,
Ed
Ed,
My pleasure. Your case will likely be heard at the Manhattan North Traffic Violations Bureau. This is one of 7 TVB courts in New York City. It is a unique type of traffic court so read my article entitled “Fighting A Traffic Ticket At The Traffic Violations Bureau” for a primer.
I hope this helps you prepare your defense and hopefully win your case.
Matthew Weiss
Hello Matthew,
I was pulled over on 86 going 79 in 65. The officer put a note in the comments section saying I was next to a “Lucky” truck and also my car is red. I have an orange car, the truck in front of me (who just passed me on the right) was a red and was next to the “Lucky” truck when we passed the cop. Also, as I have been caught a few times prior I always set on cruise at 74 when traveling on roads like this when possible (I was set on 74 in this situation). I unfortunately have no proof except that the cop put the color red (my car is orange) on the ticket.
Also, I am from PA and this is my third ticket in the last two years in NY. Can I fight this with my previous info or at least get it reduced? How will this effect my PA license status?
Thank you,
Troy
Troy,
The wrong color on the ticket does not render it fatally defective. However, you should still plead not guilty and fight this ticket. This is the only way to possibly get a better outcome.
Points from a NY conviction will not transfer onto your PA license but a NY conviction will be reported to PA so it can affect your auto insurance rates. More importantly, because you have 2 other NY tickets on your record, your NY record has issues. This ticket could, in fact, lead to a suspension (depending on what other tickets are already on your record and how many points each carry). You, therefore, should fight this ticket and you should consult with an experienced NY traffic lawyer given your NY ticket problems.
Matthew Weiss
On January 18, 2013, I was clocked going 81 in a 65 on I-87 in Bethlehem, NY in Albany county. The officer was in an unmarked vehicle and it was 7:45 pm. I was driving behind the officer and he pulled over into a closing onramp. As the onramp finished closing the officer decided to come back into the lane I was driving in, before I had finished passing him up. I moved into the other lane and sped up to avoid an accident which was when he turned on the lights. I had been going 75 mph for the entire trip and was on a 5 hr trip from Syracuse, NY to Fall River, MA. The stop came about 2 miles before my exit and I saw the officer pull another driver over before I even got off my exit. My last ticket was over 3 years ago and it was reduced from a speeding and disobeying traffic control device to a nonmoving and disobeying traffic control device. I can’t afford my insurance to go up and I don’t want any points on my license. How should I proceed? I live in Syracuse now and the county the court is in is over 2 hrs away.
Jacob,
You should plead not guilty and fight this speeding ticket. If you cannot or do not want to return to Albany County, then you can retain a NY traffic lawyer to appear for your.
This ticket carries 4 NY points and roughly a $200 fine. It can affect your insurance rates even if you have an otherwise clean record. If you fight it, you or your traffic lawyer can likely get this reduced to a 2-point ticket (and perhaps a 0-point ticket).
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
hello, the other night i was driving i-95 south towards jfk airport in new rochelle westchester county and was pulled over by new york state police and he clocked me at 77/55. i am from Ri and have a cdl license and a clean driving record. when pulled over all the officer asked me was if i saw him and if i knew the speed limit and where i was going. what is my best action to take care of this. thank you
Robert,
You should plead not guilty and fight this speeding ticket. If you do, you likely can save NY points and save the $300 Driver Assessment Fee. Further, because you have a CDL, you have an additional reason to fight this ticket.
Matthew Weiss
I was pulled over last night going 84 in a 55. I was going a bit faster, but I think the cop cut me a break by putting me under 30. The ticket I got was in southhampton ny. It doesn’t say a fine. What should I do? I’m probably going to plead guilty because I admitted to speeding.
DriverX,
You should plead not guilty and fight this 6-point speeding ticket. If you do, you likely can save money and points, and avoid an insurance hike.
Matthew Weiss
I was doing 83 in a 65 on I-88 in ny. I’m a md resident and live 6 hrs away. In md driving over 80 is considered reckless driving. On my ticket there is nothing stating I was pulled over for reckless driving, just a traffic infraction. Since I was not pulled over for reckless driving. Will my case transfer to md as reckless driving or as a speeding ticket as said on my ticket
Chris,
You are charged with a speeding violation (not reckless). Therefore, if you are found guilty, it will be recorded as speeding. You will need to speak with a Maryland traffic lawyer to ascertain how such a conviction will be treated in Maryland. As a New York traffic lawyer, I am not familiar with Maryland’s traffic laws.
Matthew Weiss
Okay, so today I went to court in Rochester NY to plead not guilty to my speeding ticket. Because of my spotless record the judge gave me the the minimum fine ($90) plus the surcharge ($80). He gave me the minimum fine but why didn’t he reduce my points if my record is clean???
Desiree,
At the Rochester Traffic Violations Bureau, there is no plea bargaining or deals. That is why he couldn’t reduce your ticket.
Matthew Weiss
Ohhhh…well thanks so much for the reply! TVB is different from municipal in that way? BTW, I encourage EVERYONE to plead not guilty and go to court. It took less than an hour and all together I saved about $25. Not that much but even the secretary person said I did the right thing and apparently the judge was as lenient as he could be. I was nervous about going but so glad I did! I also read Matthews comments religiously and felt I knew what to expect and felt prepared. Thanks so much for your helping us all Matthew!!
Desiree,
Thanks so much for your kind praise. I’m glad it helped you obtain a favorable outcome.
Best,
Matthew Weiss
Hi,
I got a ticket on 11/02/2012 and between my husband and I we thought we paid it. It just came about that it was never paid and now I am very worried about having a warrant or a suspended license. While driving on the 81 in Oswego county, I got pulled over for going 82 in a 65 and I was unaware that I as traveling so fast. What should I do? My husband is deployed and I do NOT want to go to jail.
Thank you,
Tori
Tori,
Simply, you need to clear up any suspension and, of course, timely answer your Oswego ticket.
Matthew Weiss
Driving on the Throgs Neck bridge toward the Clearview Expressway in Queens I received my first speeding ticket in over 25 years. The officer said that I was doing 68MPH in a 45MPH zone. I really don’t believe that I was going that fast but I can’t prove it. I thought that I could go to court and negotiate the charge, however after reading the posts on your site I’m concerned that I don’t have a really good option other than either hire an attorney or take my chances at trial. The officer wrote on the ticket that I was driving a “Volks”, a different make car than I was actually driving (a Volvo). Is this mistake enough to get the judge to dismiss the charges? I’ve been out of work and money is extremely tight. Thanks in advance for your help.
JR,
Unfortunately, the “Volks” mis-description does not render your ticket defective.
Matthew Weiss
Matt, thank you for your prompt reply. Based upon your experience, do you think that the judge will show leniency for someone with a long-term clean driving record? My guess is that my case will be assigned to Northern Queens which doesn’t sound too great. Will I have a better chance to get the ticket reduced or thrown out if I hire an attorney?
JR,
You cannot plea bargain a Queens traffic ticket. It is guilty or not guilty at this court. If you are convicted, the judge will likely give you the minimum fine given your otherwise clean record.
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
I received a 90 in a 45 on the BQE. I am waiting for the ticket to be entered in the TVB system. That has not been done yet, so I can not respond to it online. It has been 12 days and I signed up to receive a notification via email.
What is the best course of action from this point on?
NYC Driver,
This is a very serious offense as it carries 11 points, a hefty fine, a $675 Driver Assessment Fee and, most importantly, a possible suspension. Keep checking the online system. It usually takes 30 days for a new ticket to “hit”.
Matthew Weiss
to
nyc driveer
get your checkbook out ! !
Hello,
I received a speeding ticket 55 in 30 in NY, I am a Michigan resident. I pleaded non guilty but did not show up to court because I was unable to. I did not take action and therefore my license was suspended. I received a new court date. Would you please advise how do I proceed from here? What is the best course of action? I appreciate your advice. Thank you.
All A,
Because a NY conviction will transfer onto your Michigan license, you did the correct thing by pleading not guilty. You can contact the clear about clearing your suspension and getting a new court date, or you can retain a NY traffic lawyer who can handle it. If you retain a NY traffic lawyer, then you will NOT have to travel to NY and appear in court.
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
Hello, I am from New Jersey and I received a Ticket on 12/28/2012 on State Route 12 in Deerfield Town Court. I have been trying to call the court for 3 weeks (7 messages) to find out what my fine is and how to plead Guilty. My ticket was for 75 in a 55, i cannot really afford to fight this ticket or travel up to NY. Furthermore when the officer input my infromation he failed to run my DL over and they have my old address (NJ they just send you a sticker) so anything they would have mailed out is goingto the wrong location. Do you have an idea what my fine(s) would be and would it be in my favor to try and fight this ticket?
Ryan,
Your fine will be set by the judge but it will be roughly $200. This ticket carries 4 points in NY and will transfer as 2 NJ points on your NJ license. If you fight it, you likely will be able to get less NY points, avoid a possible insurance increase and possibly avoid any NJ points.
Feel free to call us to discuss. The consultation is free.
Matthew Weiss
212-683-7373
Hello, I received a speeding ticket in Saratoga Springs going 43 in a 25 mph zone. I don’t think I was speeding that much, as I had just turned onto the road from a dead stop when he pulled me over. I was also misquoted in in the supporting deposition, which states “I was goin fast”, when I had asked him if I was speeding.
I also got a ticket last October for not changing my address with the DMV, I pleaded not guilty and I’m still waiting for a court date. Otherwise I have nothing on my record.
The DMV told me it usually takes six months to receive a court date in the mail, and I am moving to Washington state in five months. I’m afraid of pleading not guilty to the speeding ticket and moving before I receive the court date. Should I just plead guilty and pay the fee? Thank you in advance for the advice, this is a great site.
Kristin,
Because a NY conviction will transfer onto a Washington State license, we recommend that you plead not guilty and fight this ticket. If you do, you likely can save points and avoid having a high speeding ticket on your record.
If you cannot attend court, then you can retain a New York traffic lawyer to appear for you.
By the way, a ticket for failing to notify DMV of a change of address is not a moving violation and carries 0 points. Therefore, this one you can just pay (especially since you are moving away).
Matthew Weiss
Dear Michael,
I want to thank you for your advice and encouragement to plea bargain for my son’s speeding ticket in Beacon, NY. He got his ticket reduced to “illegal parking”, NO points and a $100 fine. Your additional blog advice of dressing nicely in court and speaking respectfully, I believe, helped immensly.
Thank you again for this website and your helpful attitude. You’re a gem!
Melissa V,
Thanks so much for following up and letting us know how your son’s case worked out. I am really happy that my advice help.
Best,
Matthew Weiss
Hi Mathew,
I got a ticket for allegedly doing 92 in 65mph zone at Schroon Lake under the jurisdiction of Schroon Town Court, NY on Dec 31st. I have plead not guilty and mailed the ticket back to the court. The ticket has the trial date 23rd Jan printed on it. Can I expect a conference with the prosecutor before this date? Is the conference to be done in person? Does Schroon Town Court offer plea bargains in general? Also, will Schroon Town Court allow motion for discovery?
Thanks in Advance,
Ranjith.
Ranjith,
The conference will be in person and the court will set this date shortly. The Schroon traffic court does plea bargain. In my opinion, it will likely offer you a 2 or 3 point ticket as part of a plea. Finally, yes, you can make a motion for discovery but first you must make a demand that goes un-answered.
Matthew Weiss
Can you explain a bit more about the process of requesting Discovery? Is the demand for discovery to be sent only to the prosecutor or to the court clerk,PD and the prosecutor? Will demanding for discovery affect my plea bargain chances in any way? As the Radar reading is 27 miles above the limit, what are my chances to escape even if the officer was not adequately trained or the radar was found faulty in the discovery if I go for trial?
Ranjith,
Is the demand for discovery to be sent only to the prosecutor or to the court clerk, PD and the prosecutor? It is sent to the court and prosecutor. There is no PD for traffic tickets.
Will demanding for discovery affect my plea bargain chances in any way? Yes, it is possible that such a request will impair your ability to negotiate a plea bargain.
As the radar reading is 27 miles above the limit, what are my chances to escape even if the officer was not adequately trained or the radar was found faulty in the discovery if I go for trial? I cannot predict or quantify your chances with any certainty. If you can prove inadequate training or a faulty radar, then your chances for success are substantially better. I’m sorry that I cannot be more precise but these are impossible questions to answer with any detail.
Matthew Weiss
Sorry for being impossible and thank you for your responses. Keep the good work going, yours is one of the most useful websites when it comes to NY traffic tickets.
Thanks Ranjith!
I received a speeding ticket of 75/65 on I90 in Scottsville NY. I didn’t think I was over 70, B’case I am from Canada and the officer’s first words were asking me if I knew how fast I was going. I said “I was traveling in 70 mph”. He went back, typed it up, and said I did 75 and gave me the ticket, and showed me his copy. I don’t live in USA, I don’t know what to do with this speeding Ticket. This is my first offense;
Can you please give me a good advice
Thanks
Kesan,
Because a NY conviction will transfer onto your Quebec or Ontario license, you should plead not guilty and fight this speeding ticket. If you do not want to appear in court, you can retain a NY traffic ticket lawyer to appear for you.
Matthew Weiss
Hello, and thank you in advance for such a great service.
I got a speeding ticket in Bronx, NY on the I-95S for doing 91 in a 50 MPH zone. The officer told me to plea guilty when I show up to court. I don’t think I am going to plea guilty, but I do know that I was speeding. Is there any chance of going around this in court? Please help.
Nigel,
This is an 11-point ticket that can result in a suspension. Further, it carries roughly a $300 fine and a $675 Driver Assessment Fee. We therefore recommend that you plead not guilty and fight this ticket, and that you speak with (if not hire) an experienced New York traffic ticket lawyer.
Matthew Weiss
Hello Matthew,
Thank you very much for this useful blog and information. I was just pulled over today, just a few hours ago, on the Long Island Expressway (I-495). This was my first time ever receiving a speeding ticket – my license is completely clean otherwise. Being in shock, I didn’t say a word to the officer as he told me I was going 82 mph (55 mph speed limit). I now wish I’d at least tried reasoning with him, considering it is my first offense and also New Year’s Eve… oh well. My car (2013 Kia Sorento LX) is a brand new lease and I’ve just started getting used to it. I was among the few on the highway today, honestly driving about the same speed as the rest of traffic – I was just the lucky one to be picked out.
I’m leaning towards pleading not guilty, since this qualifies for the 6-point penalty, but not sure if I have a chance. Is there any advice you could offer me about what to expect and how to handle this in the best way possible? My financial situation isn’t great and it would be a huge help if I could avoid the maximum fine. The ticket states that the charge is based on “direct observation” by “pace” – I’m not exactly sure what that means and my mind is filled with a bunch of questions. Have you heard of these tickets being appealed before? Can I fight this – and if so, how? Do I have a fighting chance and is it worth it? What is the best possible result? How much will the fines be, and how will my license and insurance (Geico) be affected?
If it is possible for you to answer any of these questions, I would be eternally grateful !!!
Dani,
Definitely plead not guilty. If your ticket was issued in Nassau County, you can negotiate a plea bargain and save the $300 Driver Assessment Fee. If this was issued in Suffolk County, you can also plea bargain but after April 2013 when the new Suffolk County traffic court opens. So delay your speeding ticket case beyond that date (if you can).
Matthew Weiss
Matt,
I’m a New Jersey driver and I was driving RT23 in Catskill (Greene County) and I was issued a ticket for 80 in a 55. I have a clean record other than this ticket so I’m hoping this isn’t going to be too painful. If possible I would like to avoid making an appearance in person since Catskill is ~150 miles from where I live. What do you think I’m in for, and would it be possible to take care of this without a return trip?
New Brunswick,
If you retain a NY traffic lawyer, then he or she can appear on your behalf. Further, an experienced traffic lawyer can likely save you NY points, the $300 Driver Assessment Fee and possibly the 2 NJ points that would transfer upon a NY moving violation conviction.
Matthew Weiss
Hi Matt,
Happy holidays and thanks in advance for your guidance.
My 18 months ticket history:
11/30/2011 – 6 PTS reduced to 4 PTs (Northbound Harlem River Drive)
5/30/2012 – 8 PTS – Case adjourned to 4/30/2012 – $40 bond paid (Northbound Henry Hudson – 74 in 35)
I have already taken the points reduction course online after results on first ticket.
What are the total fines and assessments I should expect for the 5/30 ticket?
Am I correct in thinking it will be a $300 fine plus $750 bad driver’s tax due to 12 points counted toward the assessment if I am found guilty?
Will there be a possibility of license suspension? I would think not since I have taken the point reduction course…
What is the likely hood of a possible reduction from the judge as I was caught right where the speed zone changes from 50 to 35?
Pretty ridiculous speed trap as it goes from 50 to 35 to 25 back to 50 on the section of the Henry Hudson with plenty of curves and entrance ramps from above and the right where cops can hide.
Advice to others driving northbound on 9A is to slow down once you are past the GWB exit. Just doing 46 can get you 6 points on the second curve….
Brooklyn,
If you are found guilty of the 5/30/12 speeding ticket, you’ll have a total of 12 points less 4 for the driver safety class (10 net). The fine will be roughly $300 plus you’ll owe a $750 Driver Assessment Fee.
Further, you can be suspended if you are convicted of the 5/30/12 speeding ticket despite taking the Driver Safety Class. A NYC judge has discretion to do so for just one 8-point speeding conviction (and, of course, you have a second speeding ticket within 18 months).
There is no plea bargaining in NYC so you cannot get this reduced to a lesser charge.
My advise would be to hire an experienced NY traffic lawyer given the seriousness of your situation.
Matthew Weiss
Matt,
I actually have hired a law firm for both these tickets, but just discovered this blog recently. I was surprised my lawyer was asked for bond on the first adjournment. I thought I was entitled to 2? Maybe having too many adjournments reflects badly on the case?
On the question of suspension they also could not give me a clear answer as to “will I get suspended”.
Other than these two tickets I have been point free for over 5 years. My job recently relocated to N. manhattan so I got nailed twice in unfamiliar territory.
I came across some stats you posted back in 2010 that showed Manhattan north has a very favorable rate for discretionary suspensions as well as convictions. Almost the best out of all TVB in NYC. Not sure if this is still the case due to the tix-fix scandal in the Bronx.
Brooklyn,
Recently some of the TVB judges have been requiring bonds for first adjournments. However, the imposition of a bond does not impact whether you win or lose the case when it comes up for trial. Further, you can be suspended if you are convicted of the 5/30/12 speeding ticket despite taking the Driver Safety Class. A NYC judge has discretion to do so for just one 8-point speeding conviction (and, of course, you have a second speeding ticket within 18 months). I cannot answer the question whether you will be suspended as that lies with the defense strategy devised by your traffic lawyer as well as the judge. Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
Matt,
Looks like the worst case was realized.
I was found guilty and also issued a 31day suspension. So it looks like even though I took the point reduction course, the admin judge suspended my anyway.
I’ve read that restricted use licenses can be applied for. Do you think I will qualify for one if the judge used his discretion to suspend me?
Recently they changed the speed limit in this stretch of the Henry Hudson from 35 to 45. Do you think I have any grounds for a successful appeal?
Thanks again and I don’t know if I used the right firm to defend me… I thought for sure I would at least avoid suspension with a good lawyer.
Brooklyn,
I am sorry that you were suspended. I don’t know who you retained as your traffic lawyer but I can tell you that there are definitely ones that our better than others.
If you have never had a restricted license before, then you can get one. The suspension notice that DMV will send you in the mail will state whether you are eligible.
Matthew Weiss
Hey Matthew
Recently I got a ticket for going 56 in a 30 and there’s no way I was going that fast. I was slowing down from 45. When I asked the officer so show me his radar he simply laughed and handed me the ticket. This happened in Brooklyn NY on ocean parkway how do you think I go about this?
Adam Matiteeb,
This speeding ticket carries 6 points, roughly a $200 fine and a $300 Driver Assessment Fee. I therefore recommend that you plead not guilty and fight this ticket. BTW, the officer is not required to show you the radar or laser print-out.
Matthew Weiss
Yesterday, December 13, 2012, I got pulled over and issued a ticket for doing 77 in a 55 going south on the northway in Albany, NY. I already plead not guilty to the ticket because I had to move my court date, but can I expect a reduction? What kind of fines am I looking at? Not to mention, I’m 18 so how is my insurance going to react? Does it matter that a state trooper pulled me over opposed to a city cop?
Greg,
This ticket carries 6 points, roughly a $200 fine and a $300 Driver Assessment Fee. My best guess is that you can get this knocked down to a 2- or 3-point ticket and save the Driver Assessment Fee. Your insurance shouldn’t go up if you have an otherwise clean record and you can get this speeding ticket reduced to a noon-speeding ticket (or an speeding ticket that is reduced to 70/55 or less).
Finally, it shouldn’t make a difference that the ticket was issued by a state trooper.
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
Hello Matt,
This site is great! Thanks for all the advice. Today I got pulled over for driving 73 in a 50 mph zone going southbound on the Whitestone Expressway. He said to me that hes going to give me 2 points and I just have to take the defensive driving course to get rid of these points. Is it possible for a cop to determine how many points he can give me? This is also my first offense. Also he did not say anything about a fine? Is there a fine I have to pay and also should I plead not guilty?
Thanks
Harry Patel,
Thanks for your kind praise. This ticket carries 6 points (not 2). The officer was either mistaken or (more likely) trying to get you plead guilty. The fine for this ticket is roughly $150 plus a $300 Driver Assessment Fee. I recommend that you plead not guilty and fight this ticket. This is the only way to possibly get a better result.
Matthew Weiss
are there any consequences or further fines for fighting a ticket?
Harry,
Great question! In most cases, there is no down side to fighting your speeding ticket. The only exception that comes to mind is where the officer already gave you a break during the car stop by lowering the actual charge. In those cases, the prosecutor could seek to amend the charge back up to the original offense.
Of course, the only other down side is that it usually takes more time when you plead not guilty (versus guilty).
Matthew Weiss
when i was pulled over , the officers were super polite, vague about the fine, nothing said about court costs levied and then the real ugly suprise of the NY State driver assestment fee of 300 dollars.
the 2nd ticket cost was 285 to catskills, and 300 to NYS……
i ve been driving that route for 12 years now, and never seen such heavy enforcement.
time to SLOW DOWN ! !
John,
Thanks for sharing. Yeah, this stretch is heavily enforced. These towns need money and it’s an easy way for them to raise it.
Matthew Weiss
This article has been helpful, I now have a better understanding of what will probably happen to me next… Anyways, I received a speeding ticket this evening on my way to work in Ithaca, NY in Tompkins County. According to the officer I was going 18mph over the speed limit,”63mph in a 45mph zone.” I never go over 45-50 in this region because I know there are too many police monitoring that particular area and the speed limit does this weird thing where it goes from 30-45 quickly. I’m not sure if it is even worth it to try and go to court for this ticket and I want to know if I even have a chance. The officer miss-quoted me in his print out and also told me that I was the only car in his “corridor” at that time when in fact I was surrounded by many cars who were all in a hurry to pass me because the train was going through in Ithaca and traffic was backed up. I drive an hour and ten minutes to work 5 days a week and I really can’t imagine paying a huge fine and having my insurance go up right now so I just want to know if it’s worth fighting. And if it is worth fighting, should I get a traffic lawyer? Would this be the right situation for one? I have never been to court for a traffic violation and it sounds scary. I only have one other ticket on my record and its in another state (CA in 2006). Thank you for your help!
Jenn,
I’m glad you’ve found this article helpful. If you plead not guilty, you or your traffic lawyer can likely negotiate this down to a 2-point ticket. It’s even possible, it will be reduced to a 0-point ticket. You should definitely plead not guilty and fight this speeding ticket as any plea bargain will avoid the possibility of your auto insurance rates increasing.
In regard to whether you should hire a New York traffic lawyer (like me), you can handle yourself or get a lawyer to appear for you. If you are truly scared about representing yourself, then get a lawyer. Otherwise, represent yourself.
Matthew Weiss
Hello, I received a speeding ticket today in the Town of Hopkinton, NY in St. Lawrence County. I was going 55mph in a 40mph zone. The Hopkinton Town Court is what the ticket was assigned to. My situation is quite complicated though. I live in RI and have a RI License. However I currently attend college at Lyndon State in VT. Traveling on my way back from Suny Potsdam to VT, I had my cruise control set exactly at 55mph because that is the limit for the majority of the road. I had apparently entered a 40mph zone without realizing it. I was paying attention and do not recall seeing a sign. Regardless, I did not argue with the officer, who was traveling in the opposite direction and turned around to stop me. We had a very friendly and peaceful conversation, so no bad relations there. He was generous enough to give me over a month to send in my plea. I’m 18 years old and have been driving since 16; this is my first offense ever. I feel I have a reasonable excuse to argue, so should I plea guilty or not guilty (and is the cost of 4 hours of travel worth it to fight the ticket)? What do you think the approximate cost of the ticket will be? It is a 4-point ticket, but in RI points are not calculated. How will this transfer? Thank you so much for your help!
Anthony M,
A NY conviction will be reported to RI but won’t carry points in RI. Your RI insurance company, however, can learn about it and, thus, use it to raise your rates. The speeding ticket will cost you about $150 if you plead guilty or plea it down. You won’t save on the fine if you plea bargain it.
Matthew Weiss
Thank you for the info. Is it worth a not guilty plea to fight this in court to try to get the fine reduced?
Anthony M,
As I previously wrote, you likely won’t save any money on the fine if you fight this case. You are looking at a $150 fine either way.
Matthew Weiss
Hello,
I received a speeding ticket of 81/65 on I90 in Monroe County. All day I was having rocks kicked up at my windshield so when I saw a truck I decided to pass it quickly. I didn’t think I was over 80, closer to 78, and the officer’s first words were asking me if I knew how fast I was going. I said yes, thinking he would say 75. He went back, typed it up, and said I did 81 and gave me the ticket, and showed me his copy, where he quoted me saying I knew what speed I was going.
I don’t live in the area (it’s roughly two hours away) and work nights and early on weekends so I can’t really take my scattered days off to drive over and back.
This is my first offense; however, I’m 24 and the only way my insurance is moderately feasible is all my ‘safe driving’ discounts. My question is threefold: Should I mail it in or show up at court? Should I try to plead not guilty based on the fact I thought I was under 15 above and he has me listed at 16 above? And would my insurance rate skyrocket?
Thank you for your advice.
Mel88,
You should plead not guilty via certified mail. If you do, you likely can negotiate a plea bargain (a reduced charge) and avoid an insurance hike.
If you don’t want to drive to court, then you retain a NY traffic lawyer to appear for you.
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
I got a 79/65 going on the interstate through Cattaraugus county, town of Allegany. I didn’t admit that I was speeding but the officer noted that I knew the speed limit was 65 and I was “trying to set the cruise control”. Which I indeed said.
I’m out of state – how much of a fine am I looking at, and what’s the chance (and the gain) that an experienced traffic attorney could get it down to 10 over?
Fred,
A New York traffic lawyer can likely get this reduced for you through a plea bargain. However, what is the proper plea bargain for you depends on in which court your case is assigned.
Matthew Weiss
I was thrilled to find your blog. Thank you for providing this service. I need some advice.
I received a speeding ticket 78/65 on the I-90 in Genessee Country, NY. I live in Ontario, Canada and have a clean driving record. I haven’t had any type of ticket in more than 25 years. I spoke to the court and they said if I send in a plea, I do not need to show up at the court date listed on the ticket. Would it be wiser to attend this or wait for a court date to be mailed? I am looking to plead not guilty. I was over the posted limit, as I pulled out to pass a large truck full of Xmas trees. I then pulled back into the right lane and reset my cruise before I was pulled over. I don’t know what to expect with the fine as it is not posted on the ticket. Will this ticket translate to points off my license in Ontario?
Shannon,
Thanks for your nice remarks. Because points from a NY conviction will transfer onto your Ontario license as demerit points, you did the right thing by pleading not guilty. You should now just wait for a court date. Once you have it, you or your NY traffic lawyer should appear and negotiate a plea bargain (a reduction to a less serious charge). On a 4-point speeding ticket, I would think you or your traffic lawyer could get this down to a 2-point ticket (and roughly a $150 fine).
Thank you Mark. They sent me a form saying I could ask for a reduction. I sent that off including an explanation of my situation and I guess they will let me know. I also noted, as I figured out from the correspondence they sent, as well as the ticket itself, that they had my initial wrong on the ticket. Hopefully, this doesn’t hurt my reduction in the end. Thanks again.
Shannon,
The wrong initial will not affect anything. Good luck! I hope you get a good offer.
Matthew Weiss
Hi there,
A little over 2 years ago (10.2010) I got a speeding ticket for going 53 in a 30 zone in Brooklyn, NY. My court date was rescheduled 3 times, actually 4 times but the last time I had to pay $40 bond fee. To make a long story short, I was found guilty. The question now is what kind of fine and/or other charges I will have to pay and also will my $40 bond will be counted towards my fine? This was my first ever speeding ticket or any other major ticket. Will my insurance (Geico) rate go up? Lastly, I was told that I will have no points on my license.
Max,
Your $40 bond will be applied to the fine. The judge should have assessed a fine at the time he or she found you guilty. Check your receipt. Finally, DMV will send you a separate bill for $300 for the Driver Assessment Fee. This fee is imposed on any motorist who gets 6 or more points. Even though your points from this ticket no longer count (because they are greater than 18 months old), you still have to pay this fee.
In regard to your insurance, GEICO can raise your rates based on this conviction when you are up for renewal. They don’t have to raise them but they can.
Matthew Weiss
Im a newly licensed driver and I just got a speeding ticket for doing 93 on a 65 MPH Zone on I-87 in Orange County . If I plead not guilty to avoid the charge, and the 6 points this would probably add to my license, what happens when I get to court??
Francisco,
At court, you will be given a conference where you can discuss a plea bargain (an offer to plead guilty in exchange for a lesser charge). Because you were likely on probation for this ticket, you need to be careful how you resolve this case. Some resolutions will involve a suspension (while others will not).
Matthew Weiss
My 20 year old son was coming home from college and was caught speeding 67mph in a 55mph zone in Poughqag, NY. We have plead not guilty and have been offered a date to plea bargin at the court house in Beekman. If he were convicted going 12mph over the speed limit he would be charged with 4 points on his license and approximately $300 in fines. What is the best possible plea bargin deal I can expect without the assistance of a lawyer? This is his first moving violation.
Michael V,
The best result that you can get would be a 0-point ticket. If you can’t get that, then your son will likely be offered a 2-point Disobey Traffic Control Device ticket.
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
Hi Matthew,
Thanks so much for this forum, it’s already made me feel more comfortable about a speeding ticket I received. I was caught doing 74 in a 55 on the Taconic Parkway, and my appearance date on the ticket is 12/10/12 in Stanfordville, NY. From other things I’ve read here, I think I should plead not guilty. But am I being dumb that I can’t figure out whether I can just turn up on the appearance date to enter that not-guilty plea. Or do I have to mail it in ahead of time? It seems to me like I can just show up on the day and time, but I’d feel better knowing this is the correct protocol. In terms of my record, I have had a NY State license for 4 years, and it’s clean. I previously had a MA license, and I did get speeding tickets in NY about 12 years ago on that MA license. Would those tickets appear on my NY license, or can I safely tell them my record is “clean”? I also don’t think I was going 74. But if the ticket says the charge is based on “direct observation” and verified by “radar”, model “stalker dual”, then does that mean he definitely clocked me on radar and it’s unrefutable? It was late at night, not many people around, so it’s a shame to get a ticket that’s 19 above the limit… Thanks for your help!
Michele Wurm,
Thanks for your kind comments. I’m glad it has allayed your concerns about your ticket.
You can plead not guilty by mail (we recommend with delivery confirmation) before your appearance date or in person on that date. If it’s been more than 48 hours and you want to plea by mail, then you should also call the court and let them know that you are belatedly sending in your not guilty plea.
Those old NY tickets will not count. After 18 months, NY DMV no longer counts the points from a traffic ticket vis-a-vis new tickets.
Finally, it sounds like he used a radar device but you should still fight this ticket. If you do, you likely can negotiate this down to a less serious charge.
Matthew Weiss
Mines a little different. Not speeding but got pulled over for passing a guy that was taking forever turning. I went into the opposite lane to do this. The officer sited me for unsafe passing…Really? Wasn’t speeding nothing. All the ticket says is unsafe passing. I’m pleading not guilty but am wondering what the cost will be and how many points. I’m hoping at my pre meeting I can explain and hopefully pay a fine but no points. What do you think? Thanks!
Pat,
An unsafe passing ticket carries 3 points and roughly a $200 fine. Depending on the court, you may be able to negotiate this down to a 0-point ticket.
BTW, from your description, you may not have violated the passing law. Look up the law under which you were charged (likely) VTL 1120 to see if you violated it terms.
Matthew Weiss
I am a resident of Pennsylvania and got a speeding ticket in New York (SR21 -Town of Italy). The ticket was written for 47 in a 30 mph zone (VTL Section 1180D). The NYS Police officer indicated that charge was based on direct observation and verified with radar (dual stalker). How much will the fines (and surcharges) be? Will points go on my PA license? Should I plead guilty or try to get reduced?
Thanks
Bob
Bob,
The fine for this speeding ticket will be roughly $200 (assuming you have an otherwise clean NY record). Points from this conviction will NOT transfer onto your PA license but the conviction will be reported to PA and therefore can be used by your PA insurance company to raise your rates. Therefore, you should contact your insurance company to see what affect, if any, a conviction will have. If none, then pay the ticket. If it can adversely affect your insurance, then fight it yourself or with a NY traffic ticket lawyer.
Matthew Weiss
Hey, I live in Poughkeepsie, New York I’m a 17 year old driver with 6 months driving experience with a full license from Drivers Education. I drove into Rhinebeck lost trying to find a friends house after school, unfamiliar with the area, I went into a speedzone that went from 55-45-30. I got a 50/30 speeding ticket at the time having 5 1/2 months of driving under my license. The officer told me not to worry about it, in the words “DO NOT WORRY ABOUT IT”, and said my court date would be around a year from now, but it ended up being a month, 12/06/12. I pleaded not guilty but I’m scared of what I will be charged with, what should I do? How do I fight this?
Nicholas,
You are charged with a 4-point speeding ticket. One your court date, you or your NY traffic ticket lawyer can likely negotiate this down to a less serious charge.
Good luck!
Matthew Weiss
I was driving from DC to Ontario this past week and got slapped with a ticket near Dansville,NY. It was late at night and i usually drive within 5mph of the limit.Just call it bad luck,i was at the end of a downward slope and my shitty ass car doesnt have cruise control(i had been driving for 5 hrs by this time) so i didnt really watch my speed.My odometer read 83 i think but the trooper told me i was doing 85 in a 65 mph zone. This was around 9:20 pm.
Trooper never really asked me if i knew I was speeding, he just said “you’ve been stopped by the state trooper for donig 85 in a 65 zone”. Asked me WHy,i said maybe because it was a downward slope,i wasnt sure.
What irritated me more was that he gave me the ticket for exactly 85/65..i got a ticket once before where the cop knocked off 5mph(so second ticket).Anyhow,I think there is something wrong with my Odometer as well.I will get it checked because my car has electrical issues.
-do i have to appear in court or can someone fight the ticket on my behalf?
-how many points/fine am i looking at?
-I honestly dont give a crap,I’m moving to a different state and wont be coming to Ontario or NY for a long time,but I don’t feel like paying the ticket.
Haroon S,
Your or your NY traffic lawyer will have appear in court if you plead not guilty.
You are looking at 6 NY points, roughly a $200 fine, a $300 Driver Assessment Fee and 4 Ontario demerit points.
If you ignore this ticket or fail to pay the fine, your privilege to drive in New York will be suspended which will be honored in Ontario and other states and provinces. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you address this matter.
Matthew Weiss
I am a resident of Ontario, Canada and received a speeding ticket in Morristown, NY today for going 72 in a 55. What is the estimated cost of the ticket & how will this affect my license in Ontario?
Bridgette,
Because points from New York transfer to Ontario, we recommend that you fight this ticket. To avoid coming back here, you should consider hiring a NY traffic ticket lawyer who is also knowledgeable about the Ontario demerit point system.
The fine for your ticket is roughly $200.
Matthew Weiss
i learned a hard lesson in NY over the last two years. was caught speeding in queensbury ny on I87 on 9/2011 87 in 65, and recently in catskill on I87 on 10/2012 83 in 55……..
pleaded guilty to both, now received a $300 driver assessment fee from NY state.
in reading many of the posts made by other s , it seems that police have a much lower tolerence of speed now .. seems that even 75 mph in a 65 triggers their attention….
i ve been traveling back and forth to vermont and Mass for 10 years now, and never ticketed until last year.
i m hoping that the points do not come back to NJ, my home state.
time to slow down for me, kinda of wishing i didnt plead guilty to both those tickets.
great blog here , thanks for the insight ! !
signed, former lead foot
John Doe IV,
Thanks for your nice remarks.
You must pay a NY Driver Assessment Fee even though you have an out-of-state license. In regard to the affects on on your NJ license, any NY speeding conviction will transfer as 2 points onto your NJ license.
Matthew Weiss
hi matthew
yes sir i plan on paying that assesment fee also, last thing i need is having the family in the car, and getting stopped for what ever reason, and getting arrested…… i see New Jersey now is joining the license plate scanner business too… interesting to see how many hits there are on that system sitting with a officer waiting at the car wash……while his was being dried and windows cleaned, 6 alerts went off…….he said could be expired registration, expired DL, wants/warrants on vehicle owner….and coming real soon, scanning inspection stickers too, being that information is now fed to DMV records on each set of plates……
big brother is watching in New Jersey at least…..
happy holidays to all, i know if your reading or posting here it s probally too late to SLOW DOWN ! ! but SLOW DOWN anyway… new times bring new efforcement……and it saves lives too……..
i forgot to include another thought of mine, i think i was stopped due to having the nicest car of the batch , an import with those darn bright daylite running lites on, as i was in sorts in a spread out group of traffic, moving all within a couple mph s…
ps, just got back from trip seeing the love of my life in boston area…..and NO TICKETS ! !
John Doe IV,
Yeah, those license scanners are getting more and more common and can check an impressive number of vehicles in a very short time.
Matthew Weiss
Great information on this site. I rescently got a speeding ticket for going 82/65. Im from Ontario so I know this carries over as I have been reading. I just don’t have time to go down to fight this. I’ve been reading that a New York traffic lawyer can show up for me and get it reduced. Is there a fee for hiring a person like this to show up for me? More information on this is much appreciated. I also got a ticket in New York around 4 years ago, does this effect anything? Also I’m a school bus driver, so this affects me a lot and on the back of my sheet it says:
Q Do you know how fast you were going?
A Less Than 82
Does that help my case at all? thank you very much!
Carl Dunlop,
Thanks for your kind remarks. Yes, you can retain a NY traffic lawyer to appear in your place. A traffic lawyer will charge roughly between $400 and $600 for a basic speeding ticket. Your 4-year old ticket does not count anymore in NY. Convictions last for only 18 months in NY for point purposes. Finally, your statement is not helpful but shouldn’t prevent you or your traffic lawyer from negotiating a reduction.
Matthew Weiss
Hi Matt, I had spoken to you earlier seeking your advice regarding a speeding ticket I got on I87 N, 2 months ago. As per your recommendation i did respond to them as Not guilty and last week I went to the City of Bethlehem, Delmar court and got a plea bargain. My ticket was for 81miles on a 55 MPH speed limit. They reduced it to a 2 point and a Section1175 since my license is in NJ. The prosecutor said Sec 1175 does not make my insurance go high. Is this true? I had to pay $200 also.
Thanks for your advice.
Pras Mesur,
I remember you and am glad that my advice was helpful for you to get a more favorable outcome. You did well. An 1175 violation does not transfer as points onto your NJ license. Therefore, it should not impact your NJ insurance either.
Matthew Weiss
I’m a traveller from China and got a speeding-ticket at 80mph in 65mph speed limit zone on I-81, Watertown,NY. The car is rent from enterprise and my driver license is issued by Chinese. I’ll leave US in three weeks later.
1. Shall I plea of guilty or not guilty? (My Sopken English is limited).
2. How much will I pay for the fine bill if I plea of guilty?
3. Will the over speed record influence my leave or re-enter US if I pay or not pay the fine?
4. The fine bill should be sent to the address in China or the hotel where I stayed in US?
5. Will ENTERPRISE charge me more when I dropped off car if they know my over speed record?
Thank you!!!
Leon
Leon Quian,
I you don’t plan on coming back to NY for a while (18 months or more), just plead guilty and pay this ticket.
The fine will be about $200.
A speeding conviction of this nature should not affect your ability to visit the US (although I’m not an immigration lawyer).
I would use a US address for mail from the court. See if the hotel will forward your mail.
No, Enterprise will not charge your more but you are responsible to pay all tickets issued while using its car.
Matthew Weiss
Thanks for your reply.
for the first item , if I plea of guilty and plan to coming back to NY in 18 month for business trip or applying visa, will this be an issue?
Leon
Leon Qian,
I do not think so. The 18-month period is only to measure your NY DMV points, not to affect your immigration rights.
Matthew Weiss