Even though it has a small population, Oneida county encompasses numerous populated hamlets, villages, and attractions in New York where speeding and traffic tickets are common. The Turning Stone Resort and Casino is located in Vernon, NY, directly off of exit 33, and Interstate I-90 cuts across Oneida County, making it popular for traffic tickets.
If you have received a speeding ticket on I-90, it will likely be returned to the Vernon Town Court. The City of Rome is the main municipality in Oneida County and most red light, stop sign, speeding, and failure to signal tickets will be returned to the Rome City Court. Speeding tickets throughout the county can also be returned to their respective town or city, like Westmoreland Town Court, Utica City Court, Deerfield Town Court, Kirkland Town Court, New Hartford Town Court, Paris Town Court, and the Trenton Town Court. The Oneida County District Attorney prosecutes all speeding and traffic tickets issued in Oneida County.
If you were pulled over on Route 13 on the way to Oneida Lake, or on I-90, the traffic ticket attorneys at Weiss and Associates, PC can help you fight the ticket. We have years of experience with New York traffic law in Oneida County and throughout New York State.
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.
Common Reasons Drivers Hire a Traffic Ticket Attorney in Oneida County
Scott D McNamara, Oneida County District Attorney, estimates that around 1,000 traffic tickets are issued on the New York State Thruway and other major roads running through Oneida County each week.
Speeding Tickets
According to the Oneida County 180-9 general provision, no vehicle, except an authorized emergency vehicle, shall be driven at a rate of speed greater than 55 miles per hour on the public highways within the city lines. Inside the district, speeds should not exceed 30 miles per hour except for on select streets.
Fighting a License Suspension
A license suspension in Oneida County means that your driving privileges will be taken away for a period of time. There may be a suspension termination fee associated as well. Your suspension period may be definite, meaning the order will define how long the suspension period will last, or indefinite, meaning there will be steps to take in order to remove the suspension.
A revoked driving license or driving privilege in Oneida County means that your license has been canceled and you must get a new one once the revocation period ends. In many cases you may have to first request approval from the Oneida DMV, pass a driving test, and pay a re-application fee.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is a serious offense not only in Oneida County but also in all of New York State. Unreasonably interfering with a public highway or endangering other drivers, pedestrians and cyclists are all actions that may result in a reckless driving charge.
A conviction for reckless driving is actually considered a misdemeanor, with the strong potential for jail time as a punishment. It also carries 5 points. Reckless driving is defined liberally due to its dangerous nature. This means that a prosecutor would need to prove that driving offenses were also accompanied by other aggravating acts or circumstances.
Red Light Tickets
The penalty associated with running a red light in Oneida County is a fine of $50 and may also carry 3 points on your license. You may also be required to take a driving school course.
If you are caught running a red light by being physically seen by a police officer, subsequently pulled over, and issued a ticket, contact our office for immediate assistance.
Obstructing Intersection Tickets
New York State law prohibits drivers from obstructing traffic at an intersection, commonly referred to as grid locking or blocking the box. This involves entering an intersection where there is insufficient room to accommodate the vehicle. You must enter when there is sufficient room beyond the far crosswalk to accommodate your vehicle. Please note that this section does not apply to vehicles turning right or left at intersections.
Based on accident frequency and severity in obstructing intersection cases, Oneida County has added the alternative of a roundabout on Route 825 within the Griffiss Technology Park and at Oneida Square on Genesee Street. However, many intersections still exist within the County.
Stop Sign Tickets
In Oneida County, you could get a ticket if you do not come to a complete stop at a stop sign. This means you should still be able to see the white line in front of the hood of your car. A conviction for running a stop sign may result in a fine of roughly $243 and 3 points. Multiple violations can result in a license suspension.
Cell Phone & Electronic Device Tickets
New York state has very broad laws regarding the electronic device or cell phone usage as a way to discourage any use of mobile devices behind the wheel. Prohibited activities include speaking into a handheld device, texting, swiping a screen, taking a photo with its camera, reading or writing any transmittable data, or any other use.
It is illegal to use a cell phone to communicate with text messages while driving in Oneida County. You could be facing fines up to $150 if you get caught doing so. Some Oneida County deputies even have checkpoints set up to help enforce the law.
Points and Fines Associated with Oneida County Traffic Tickets
Oneida County speeding tickets can be very expensive. A typical fine can cost anywhere from $150 to $600, sometimes more. Drivers are also responsible for a New York State surcharge of $88 or $93 in addition to the ticket’s fee.
In the state of New York, the DMV assigns points for certain traffic violations. You must be convicted of a traffic violation before points are added to your driving record. If you receive 11 points within an 18-month period, your driver’s license may be suspended.
A possible DMV Driver Responsibility Assessment Fee (DRAF) applies whenever a driver reaches or exceeds 6 points on his or her license. It is important to note that a single speeding ticket for going 21+ mph over the speed limit is worth 6 points alone. The DRAF costs $300 plus $75 for each additional point over 6. Motorists should know that their car insurance rates can go up by several hundred dollars per year after being convicted of just one speeding violation of 16+ mph.
Why Hire a Traffic Ticket Attorney in Oneida County
Drivers suspected of violating a vehicle and traffic law in Oneida County should hire a skilled traffic ticket attorney to help obtain a favorable outcome. An attorney can assist in negotiating the ticket to a lesser offense that carries fewer or no points, or possibly even get the violation dismissed. This will help minimize the impact, if any, on one’s insurance rates. Further, an experienced traffic lawyer can almost always save you the time and aggravation of appearing in court.
Common Oneida County Traffic Ticket Questions
What if I do not answer my ticket?
If you do not respond to your ticket in Oneida county within the time allowed, you will be suspended and possibly found guilty by default. In addition to any fines or surcharges, you will also be facing a $70 suspension termination fee in order to restore your driving privileges.
Should I pay the fee on my New York traffic ticket?
You should never simply pay the fee for your New York traffic ticket. By doing so, you are pleading guilty and will be required to pay all fines, fees, and surcharges that result from that. As well as receiving any points on your license associated with the conviction.
Why should I fight my New York traffic ticket?
The state will have to prove its case against you in order for you to be found guilty of the accusation. You have a chance of winning your case even if you know that you did it. In addition, you can plead your case down to fewer points and/or a smaller fine.
Why Let Weiss & Associates, PC Fight Your Traffic Ticket Case?
If you want the process of fighting your ticket easy and uncomplicated, then we are the right law firm for you. All of our values reinforce our goal of simplification. We patiently explain in plain English, follow through with our commitments, promptly respond to inquiries, and (most importantly) are honest with you (even with bad news). Our experience in fighting New York State traffic tickets since 1991 goes a long way. We can help.
What Area Does the Oneida County District Attorney Cover?
The Oneida County District Attorney’s Office covers the 45 village, town, city, and county courts in Oneida County. If you’ve received a traffic ticket in any of the following Oneida County municipalities, we can help: Alder Creek, Ava, Barneveld, Blossvale, Boonville, Bridgewater, Camden, Cassville, Chadwicks, Clark Mills, Clayville, Clinton, Deansboro, Durhamville, Forestport, Franklin Springs, Hinckley, Holland Patent, Knoxboro, Lee Center, Marcy, Mc Connellsville, New Hartford, New York Mills, North Bay, Oriskany, Oriskany Falls, Prospect, Remsen, Rome, Sangerfield, Sauquoit, Sherrill, Stittville, Sylvan Beach, Taberg, Utica, Vernon, Vernon Center, Verona, Verona Beach, Waterville, Westdale, Westernville, Westmoreland, Whitesboro, Woodgate, Yorkville.
Contact Weiss & Associates, PC at (212) 683-7373 today or email us at lawyer@nytrafficticet.com for free advice on the specifics of your Oneida County traffic ticket.