Rockland County is a hub of people and commerce. Whether you are driving up the Palisades Parkway or across on the New York State Thruway, the 325,000 people of Rockland County are always on the move. Unfortunately, sometimes people drive too quickly or do things behind the wheel that they know that they probably should not.
The Count is comprised of 5 towns and 19 incorporated villages, with numerous unincorporated villages (16) and hamlets. The traffic courts of Rockland County are Airmont Village Court, Chestnut Ridge Village Court, Clarkstown Town Court, Grand View-On-Hudson Village Court, Haverstraw Village Court, Hillburn Village Court, Montebello Village Court, Nyack Village Court, Orangetown Town Court, Piermont Village Court, Ramapo Town Court, Rockland Town Court, Sloatsburg Village Court, South Nyack Village Justice Court, Spring Valley Village Court, Stony Point Town Court, Suffern Justice Village Court, and West Haverstraw Village Court. The town courts generally have a larger volume of traffic tickets.
As a result of this patchwork of traffic court, if you receive a traffic ticket in Rockland County, there are numerous traffic court s where you could be required to appear. Each court has differences and policies but, fortunately, the attorneys at Weiss & Associates, PC, have extensive experience at each of these locations.
That is where we come in. Our team of experienced Rockland County traffic lawyers are ready to help you today.
Common Reasons Drivers Hire a Traffic Ticket Attorney in Rockland County
We have been in the business of helping New Yorkers fight their traffic tickets for years and years. The following list represents the most common reasons that people come to us. It is not meant to be a complete list of all the infractions that a driver may commit. Read on to learn more.
Speeding Tickets
The first thing drivers think when receiving a speeding ticket in New York State is “is it worth fighting?” The answer in most cases is YES! And it is because of the potential fines and points associated with speeding violations in New York. This is one of the most common reasons that people come to us. Fines for speeding tickets in Rockland County can range from $150 to $600, depending on a few factors such as how many previous offenses the driver has as well as how fast the driver was going. We have helped thousands of drivers with their speeding tickets.
Fight a License Suspension
For many people in Rockland County, a car is the only way to make a living. And we do not mean only commercial drivers (although we can help them too!) but rather the fact that many people need their cars to get to work. If your license has been suspended, because you had too many traffic violations in too short of a time frame or you committed one big violation, we can help get you back on the road and fight that suspended license.
Reckless Driving
The state of New York describes reckless driving as operating a motor vehicle “in a manner which unreasonably interferes with the free and proper use of the public highway, or unreasonably endangers users of the public highway.” An example of this would be driving off the road and not slowing down once you see pedestrians, running through a police barricade, or crossing the center line into the path of oncoming traffic.
Usually, the fine (and the surcharge) for reckless driving is between $100 and $300. On top of this, you will have five points added to your license which would potentially increase your insurance rates.
Red Light Tickets
The first time you are caught running a red light, you may face a fine of up to $225, and a surcharge of either $88 or $93. This is not an open and shut case that many people think it is, and there are a few ways you can beat the case against you or reduce your fines.
Obstructing Intersection Tickets
Obstructing an intersection, otherwise known as blocking the box violation, is when you cannot make it all the way across the intersection, and so traffic going the other way cannot get around you.
Stop Sign Tickets
When you are at a stop sign, all four wheels must come to a stop. Many drivers think that ‘rolling stops’, when they merely slow way down, but you need to come to a complete stop. It is also possible that the sign is partially obscured, or the sign was newly installed. There are many defenses against a stop sign ticket.
The penalties for a stop sign ticket are 3 points on your license, a fine up to $150, and a court surcharge of either $93 or $88.
Cell Phone & Texting While Driving Tickets
The first time you are caught using your cell phone while driving, you may face a fine between $50 and $200. On top of that, you might see five points added to your record.
Texting while driving is extremely dangerous. We recommend focusing on the road while you are driving for your safety and the safety of those around you.
Points and Fines Associated With Rockland County Traffic Tickets
We mentioned fines a few times above. Many people understand what that is, but it is helpful to make sure you understand the fundamentals. The amount you will have to pay can depend on a number of factors. Usually, if the cop deems that you were flagrantly violating the law, they may assess a higher fine. For example, if you are going 30 miles per hour over the speed limit, you may see a larger fine than someone who was only going 5 miles per hour over the limit.
In addition to the fine, you will face a surcharge. It can be either $88 or $93 surcharge.
You will also see that we spoke of points. Many moving violations have points associated with them. More serious violations mean that you will have more points assessed against you. If you get 11 or more points over an 18 month period, then your license will be suspended.
The point total is calculated based on the day you made the violation, not the day you were convicted. The points for violations that all occurred within the last 18 months are added together to arrive at your point total.
New York State has a reciprocal agreement with Quebec and Ontario, which means that points that you got here will count against your record on the other side of the border.
Why Hire A Traffic Ticket Attorney In Rockland County
A lot of people think that you just need to pay your fine and continue on with your life. We are happy to announce that this is not the case. As an American, it is your legal right to defend yourself in a court of law. Yes, a court of law. Getting a lawyer is not just for the crime shows on TV. You can hire a lawyer to help beat your ticket.
The question now turns to why. Why hire a traffic ticket lawyer?
Many people assume that once you pay the fine, you are done with it. That is not the case. You may see your insurance rates increase. What seems like a simple $200 problem can blossom into thousands of dollars over the years. Having a traffic ticket lawyer at your side means that the ticket can go away.
There are many defenses that a traffic ticket attorney can employ to help you with your case. Our team has tons of experience with the court system, which means that we know what evidence we should use to help you get rid of the problem.
Even if we cannot get your ticket dismissed, we can help reduce the fines and points assessed against you. You can do this by entering into a plea agreement, which basically means that you accept that what you did was wrong in exchange for a lighter penalty.
In addition to this, our team can help make sure that you stay on the road. If we are successful (check out our success rates) in your case, you will have fewer (or zero) points added to your record. Those points can sneak up on you, and hiring a good traffic ticket lawyer means that you can stay behind the wheel.
Common Rockland County Traffic Ticket Questions
Do I Have To Show Up In Court If I Hire Your Firm?
No. We understand that you have a busy schedule and may have a hard time taking off work, which is why we will take care of everything for you.
How Will You Communicate With Me?
Mostly through email, but we welcome you to call us with any questions you may have. Our team is available during business hours.
What If I Do Not Answer My Ticket?
It is very likely that your license will be suspended. On top of that, you will face a $70 fine to reinstate your license. One license suspension can increase your insurance premiums considerably.
Why Let Weiss & Associates, PC Fight Your Traffic Ticket Case
Our team has a proven track record of success. We have helped thousands of motorists in the various Rockland County traffic courts. The traffic ticket lawyers that we have on-staff are ready to fight for you and keep you on the road.
On top of that, we know that we have a commitment to you. It is our mission to explain things as clearly as possible so that you know what is going on with your case every step of the way.
Read just a handful of our satisfied clients here. Call us today to get started.