As many New Yorkers know, the traffic in the Hamptons can be pretty bad, especially during Spring and Summer months. When heading to East Hampton, Southampton, Westhampton, Montauk, or anywhere in between, you will likely use the Long Island Expressway (I-495) or the Southern State Parkway to get to Montauk Highway (NY-27) and continue east. Similarly, many weekend warriors head through Riverhead to the Southold, Greenport, Shelter Island. The North Fork vineyards and Orient Point ferry being two prime attractions. No matter the destination, many roads are heavily patrolled by police officers. And motorists who are out enjoying themselves on vacation may forget that the Hamptons and North Fork are strictly monitored for traffic violations.
For this reason, speeding laws are strictly enforced when heading to the Hamptons and the North Fork of Long Island. A speeding ticket on Long Island can add anywhere from 3 to 11 points onto your license, depending on how much you exceed the speed limit.
The Hamptons comprises Southampton and East Hampton, which together form the South Fork of Long Island, in Suffolk County, New York. The North Fork is part of the Town of Southold. Southampton, East Hampton, and Southold have their own courts but some villages like Westhampton Beach have their own courts.
For immediate assistance with your Hamptons or North Fork traffic tickets, please call our office at 212-683-7373 or email us a photo of your ticket to lawyer@nytrafficticket.com for a free consultation.
How We Can Help Fight Your Hamptons or North Fork Traffic Ticket
Weiss and Associates, P.C receives and defends speeding and other traffic tickets from both the South Fork and North Fork. We frequently see many tickets issued on Sunrise Highway (Route 27) in the Town of Southampton and County Road 48 (Middle Road) or Route 25 (Main Road) in Southold. The many speed “traps” set up in North Fork and South Fork make these areas popular areas for the issuance of traffic tickets.
The traffic courts in the Hamptons and North Fork can be pretty reasonable (except with high speeds, DWI, and a few other offenses), which is good news. We have had great success fighting speeding and other moving violations there throughout the years, like saving them DMV points, money, and insurance hikes.
Here Are Just a Few of the Traffic Violations We Will Fight On Your Behalf in The Hamptons & North Fork
Weiss and Associates, PC, is dedicated to making people’s legal problems as simple as possible. We will patiently explain and break down the matter at hand and be candid, even with the bad news. Our team of experienced New York traffic ticket attorneys has experience fighting various types of infractions in the Hamptons and North Fork:
Speeding Tickets
It can be hard for some to always be aware and stay informed of the frequent and ever-changing speed limits in the Hamptons. For example, the speed limit in Bridgehampton’s Sag-Harbor Turnpike is 35 mph from Montauk Highway to Huntington Crossway. But from Huntington Crossway to the Sag Harbor Village line, the limit is 45 mph.
If you are unsure of the speed limit it is always a smart idea to reduce your speed. Very rarely will a police officer accept the excuse of “I am not from around here” when pulled over for speeding.
Red Light Tickets
We all think we can make it through a yellow light, that the light will stay yellow for just another second longer. But the laws in the Hamptons and North Fork are fairly simple. If a police officer sees you enter the intersection when the light is red, you may be ticketed.
Cell Phones / Texting While Driving Tickets
New York State law prohibits talking on a cell phone, texting while driving, or even holding and using a portable electronic device in any way, such as a phone or GPS. Due to the inherent dangers of distracted driving, an electronic device violation falls under New York’s primary enforcement laws. This means that a police officer can pull you over and issue you a ticket, even if no other traffic violations are observed.
Consequences for a cell phone violation in the Hamptons are more severe if the driver is under the age of 21. A first conviction may result in a driver’s license or permit suspension for 120 days. But anyone convicted of a cell phone traffic violation will automatically be issued 5 points on their license, resulting in higher insurance premiums.
Suspended License
If you fail to answer a Hamptons or North Fork traffic ticket, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles may suspend your driver’s license.
Driving with a suspended registration or revoked license in New York could have you facing a criminal charge called aggravated unlicensed. Aggravated unlicensed is a misdemeanor, carries high fines, and can even carry jail time.
Truck and Commercial Traffic Violations
Trucks, commercial vehicles, tractors, and tractor-trailer combinations in excess of 18,000 pounds are prohibited from using many of the Hampton’s and North Fork’s roadways and parkways. The low stone bridges on Long Island often have an overhead clearance that is less than 14 feet, making these roads unsuitable for tractor-trailers and other commercial vehicles. If you have received a ticket for illegally driving a commercial vehicle on Long Island, we may be able to help.
Reckless Driving
A reckless driving ticket is considered to be one of the most serious that you can receive, and a conviction could stain your driving record indefinitely. Drivers charged with this offense are usually facing allegations of weaving, speeding, and blatantly running red lights.
Unlike a minor traffic violation, reckless driving is a misdemeanor, meaning it could lead to a permanent criminal record as well as 5 points on your license. And depending on how reckless you were, you could go to jail for up to 30 days for a first offense.
Obstructing an Intersection-Blocking the Box Tickets
Obstructing an intersection, otherwise known as blocking the box or gridlocking, can be a major problem on congested local streets in the Hamptons or North Fork. When Sunrise Highway backs up, it is enticing to jump into the intersection before there is sufficient room for you to make it across. Don’t do it! This ticket carries 2 points and, when you’re stuck in the middle blocking traffic, you are a sitting duck for a ticket.
“Weiss and Associates, PC was very responsive to my questions. They made the process very easy and even got me a better resolution than they told me I could expect” – Michael W.
Fines, Points, and Insurance Increases Associated With Hamptons & North Forth Traffic Tickets
In the state of New York, you are allowed no more than 11 points on your license within an 18-month period, or your license may be suspended. Each infraction has a certain number of points and fines associated with the conviction.
For example, if you are speeding less than 10 miles over the limit, your ticket will usually be between $90 and $150, and you will receive 3 points on your license. If you are speeding between 11 and 30 miles over the limit, your ticket will be in the $90 to $300 range, and you will receive anywhere from 4 to 6 points.
Each New York speeding ticket carries a court fine, mandatory surcharge, and points on your driving record. This range is significantly higher if you are a repeat offender. If you receive 6 or more points within an 18-month period, you will be subject to an additional fine known as the Driver Responsibility Assessment fee (DRA). The charge starts at $300 and an additional $75 will be imposed for each point after the 6-point mark.
Each year insurance agencies will review driving records in order to renew their policies. They will calculate your rate according to the number of points on your driving record. As you may have suspected, if you have more points, then your insurance premium is likely to increase. That is because insurance providers perceive a driver who received numerous New York traffic tickets in one year as a potential hazard.
Why Hiring an Experienced Hamptons & North Fork Traffic Ticket Lawyer Can Save You!
There are many advantages to hiring an attorney to help fight your Hamptons traffic ticket. This will not only significantly increase your chances of getting a better outcome in your matter, but you will also not need to appear in court for your case to be heard. An experienced Hamptons traffic attorney knows the Hamptons courts and the complexities of the traffic laws here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I pay the fines on my traffic ticket?
By paying your fine you are admitting guilt and pleading guilty. How your case is handled depends upon the facts of your particular case, but most often we are able to get the charge reduced or dismissed. Check your ticket and look at where it tells you to mail your “not guilty” plea to.
Why Let Weiss and Associates, P.C. Fight Your Hamptons or North Fork Traffic Ticket Case?
We highly recommend that you retain a lawyer for any Hamptons traffic ticket. Weiss and Associates, PC can avoid a plea to a Hamptons traffic ticket altogether by negotiating it to a less serious offense and thereby significantly reducing your exposure to points, which can lead to license suspensions, insurance premium increases, and significant fines.
Some of the towns and villages that you encounter while visiting the East End of Long Island are listed below. Traffic tickets can be issued in any of these locations.
Towns
- Babylon
- Brookhaven
- East Hampton
- Huntington
- Islip
- Riverhead
- Shelter Island
- Smithtown
- Southampton
- Southold
Villages
- Amityville
- Asharoken
- Babylon
- Belle Terre
- Bellport
- Brightwaters
- Dering Harbor
- East Hampton
- Greenport
- Head of the Harbor
- Huntington Bay
- Islandia
- Lake Grove
- Lindenhurst
- Lloyd Harbor
- Nissequogue
- North Haven
- Northport
- Ocean Beach
- Old Field
- Patchogue
- Poquott
- Port Jefferson
- Quogue
- Sag Harbor
- Sagaponack
- Saltaire
- Shoreham
For immediate assistance, please call our office at 212-683-7373 or email us a photo of your ticket to lawyer@nytrafficticket.com for a free consultation.