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This thread discusses speeding tickets and traffic tickets in the state of New York. For parking tickets go here http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=15090.0 or here http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=23665.msg1088489. For moving violations outside of New York, please start a new thread and add a link here.

If you have a specific question please use this template so that members will have enough information to answer.
The ticket was issued in this state:
The ticket is returnable to in this Town/Village/City:
I have a license from this state:
Regular or Commercial license:
Ticket one:
Ticket two(ex):
Accident?:
I want information on "do it yourself":
I want information on "hire an attorney":
I want both:


Please read this wiki first. I am not an attorney and this is not legal advice.

Q: Can I get a plea bargain in New York City?
A: No. Every single ticket goes to trial, guilty or not guilty, in New York City. (The 5 boroughs of NY, Kings, Queens, Bronx and Richmond.)

Q: How long does it take for points to fall off your New York State record/license/abstract?
A: For DMV persistent violation purposes 18 months from the date of offense regardless of the date of conviction. At 3 years after the date of conviction on the following January first the points are no longer visible on the driving record which insurance companies and traffic prosecutors look at. DMV always keeps a record of your conviction and if you get too many points over your lifetime you could get a "10 year" revocation, however those records are not visible to insurance companies.

Q: Does it pay to fight my NY ticket or should I just pay it?
A: In order to figure the true cost of a traffic ticket conviction (aside from figuring out the total fines and the effects on your record) you need to call up your insurance company and ask them 2 questions. 1. How much will my insurance go up over the next 4 years if I pay this ticket? 2. How much money in "good driver discounts" will I loss over the next 4 years and how much does this add up to?

The reason you need to ask these 2 questions separately is because the insurance companies "shield themselves" from the statutory requirement to not raise insurance rates for a first violation (or speeds up to 15 MPH) by granting "good driver discounts", and then taking away these good driver discounts when you get your first violation. Therefore the (technically) correct answer to the first question you ask them could be "your insurance will not be raised at all". Then when you ask them the second question the answer may be in the thousands of dollars over the next 4 years, depending on your insurance bracket.

Q: How can I find my New York ticket online? 
A: If it is New York City ticket you can find it at https://transact.dmv.ny.gov/pleadnpay if you received a ticket anywhere outside of NYC and anywhere upstate you must contact the individual Court by phone or mail. There is no way to find your ticket online. Google is not able to find most small Courts as it get confused with giving you the most popular courts and attorneys, therefore I suggest you look up your Court at at www.town-court.com.

Q: How can I get a copy of my NYS driving record/license/abstract?
A: You can buy it at the statutory minimum of $7 at https://my.dmv.ny.gov/crm

Q: Do NJ tickets show up on a regular non CDL NY license?
A: As long as you pay them, no they will not.

Q: Do NY tickets show up on NJ licenses?
A: Yes as a 2 point out of state conviction (most violations).

Q: Do NJ tickets show up on a NY license?
A: As long as you pay them, no. Exceptions 1. if you have a CDL the NJ conviction will record on your NY license. 2. DUI/DWI and criminal driving convictions from NJ do record on your NY license. 3. as stated above if you don't respond to the ticket the suspension will follow you to NY. In addition NJ issues warrants for failing to respond to traffic tickets. 4 If you are convicted of a high speed (90+ MPH, 100+ MPH) in NJ the Judge may suspend your NJ driving privileges. 

Q: Can I pay Court fines with a CC?
A: In NYC for moving violations you can use https://transact.dmv.ny.gov/pleadnpay. For NYC parking tickets you can use http://www.nyc.gov/html/dof/html/parking/parking.shtml. As far as "upstate" Courts go, most Courts will allow you to pay with visa or mastercard in person. Many Courts have a CC sheet which you can fill in and mail back, other Courts have a third party processor such as https://www.ncourt.com to accept cc payments. Call the Court to find out what options they have. No one (so far that I have seen) will take CCs over the phone.

Q: I received a camera ticket for a red light (3 points) or speeding (3-11 points) or a bus lane violation (2 points). Do traffic tickets issued from a camera add points to my license?
A: Camera Tickets never go on your license as they are issued against the car and not the driver. Therefor a camera ticket will not add points to your license or increase your insurance.

Q: If I push a ticket off for 18 months and then I am convicted, can I still be suspended by the DMV for having more than 11 points?
A: Pushing off a ticket will not help protect you from DMV actions. The reason is as follows: if you receive 2 tickets worth 6 points each on the same day, and you plead guilty to one of them on that same day and you push the second ticket off for 5 years, and then you plead guilty to that second ticket, the DMV computer will look at the 2 dates of violation and say "the motorist accumulated (more than) 11 points within an 18 month period" and issue a persistent violator suspension against you license.

Insurance companies work the other way around. They can only raise your premium after your date of conviction. Therefore in our example the insurance companies will increase your insurance after the first conviction appears on your record when they renew your policy (which will stay on your record for 3 years and then until the next January 1st) and then they will increase your rates again after the second ticket conviction shows up on your record when they renew your policy, (once again this second ticket will stay on the record for  3 years plus until the next January first. It follows that pleading/being found guilty in December saves 11 months of policy increase, and if there is a way to lock in a one year policy right before a conviction in December you can be looking at a car increase for only 2 years and 1 day, instead of 4 years minus one day.)

Travelers Insurance offers 1 year rates.
Geico is 6 months.

Traffic Ticket Lawyers:

State
New York Attorney Matisyahu Wolfberg http://www.speedingdefense.com/
New York Attorney Zev Goldstein www.zevgoldsteinlaw.com 845-356-7770
New York Attorney Benjamin Goldman https://www.benjamingoldmanlawoffice.com/ 212-203-3810
New Jersey and New York Attorney Adam H. Rosenblum www.ticketdefenselaw.com
New Jersey Attorney Leib Klein www.avvo.com/attorneys/08701-nj-leib-klein-1602182.html 732-987-7040

Great Upstate NY lawyer at very cheap prices. http://jaydrillings.net/

Not that many parking ticket lawyers!
Parking ticket Non Lawyer (NYC)
Cathy Mei She takes 50% to fight the parking or camera ticket
Office Number 212-349-4978
Email 329ticket@gmail.com
Fax 646-699-3630

Parking Expert non attorney (718) 384-5052

Non attorney runner http://www.myticketsnyc.com/

Non attorney runner http://www.wefighttickets.com/

10+ Counties in upstate NY have diversion programs, allowing you to dismiss the ticket for a fine and defensive driving class. Conditions and restrictions apply. Check the District Attorney's website for your county: Allegany, Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Clinton, Franklin, Livingston, Orleans, Otsego, Tioga, and Wyoming.

This wiki is not legal advice, nor the advice of an attorney.

Author Topic: Moving Violation Tickets  (Read 1011303 times)

Offline nocknock

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2000 on: August 18, 2015, 01:06:24 AM »

Should i note why I plead not guilty (for a 5% chance they'll dismiss it) or just Not guilty without any explanation given?
No difference whatsoever

Offline jameswacht

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2001 on: August 18, 2015, 02:29:26 AM »
Got a cell phone(texting) ticket in NY. Anyone have experience with a good lawyer?

Offline Hirshthg

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    • Zev Goldstein Esq. New York Traffic Ticket Lawyer
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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2002 on: August 18, 2015, 12:45:31 PM »
care to explain why? according to the sytem he owes nothing.
Not really. According tot he system, he has a ticket which may be disputable, but must be answered. If he doesn't answer the ticket, the court could suspend him.

Do I have something from hiring a lawyer? I have a clean record, (but it's 6 points)


You may be able to get the points off and fine reduced.

Got yesterday night 2 tickets in Monsey, the officer claimed in didn't make a total stop at the stop sign for which he gave me a "FLD TO STOP @ STOP SIGN",
And then he claimed I was speeding for which he gave me a speeding ticket 50 in a 30 zone, speed verified by Pace. Should i note why I plead not guilty (for a 5% chance they'll dismiss it) or just Not guilty without any explanation given?

The stop sign ticket is 3 points and the speed is 4 points (6 points if it was 51/30). You are looking at around $1000 max fines and 7 points. If you only plead guilty to the speed and the stop sign was dismissed you are looking at 4 points and $400. You may even get a better deal. You can go in yourself to plead this down or send an attorney. Never offer an explanation, unless you really know what you are doing.

You are looking at a 0% chance that they will dismiss it unless you go to trial (or file a motion to dismiss), which forfeits your opportunity to plea bargain. 
Got a ticket for driving without license. Was told that if I send proof that I had a license, I can get it off. Any info on that? Link??
In New York State? They want you to come to court with proof of license. Most courts will not allow you to mail it in.

Got a cell phone(texting) ticket in NY. Anyone have experience with a good lawyer?
Check the wiki

Offline Centro

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2003 on: August 18, 2015, 12:57:56 PM »
The stop sign ticket is 3 points and the speed is 4 points (6 points if it was 51/30). You are looking at around $100000 max fines and 7 points. If you only plead guilty to the speed and the stop sign was dismissed you are looking at 4 points and $400. You may even get a better deal. You can go in yourself to plead this down or send an attorney. Never offer an explanation, unless you really know what you are doing.
So I should just plea not guilty by mail and then set a court date, right?

Offline Yitz

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2004 on: August 18, 2015, 01:30:34 PM »
So I should just plea not guilty by mail and then set a court date, right?
It has been a while. When i got a ticket in the Monsey area,  I was told to appear at the airmont court. It is like a kangaroo court. they turned the ticket into a parking ticket. This goes back at least 5 years. I brought a receipt from a mechanic that my speedometer was broken. Good luck. Always plead not guilty and you can work it out with the officer as he told you he will make it into 1 ticket.

Offline Centro

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2005 on: August 18, 2015, 08:11:29 PM »
On my ticket it says I can mail it by Registered, Certified, or First Class Mail, with return receipt requested,

It says I need to mail it within 48 hours and the time is almost up, my only option now is regular mail, what should I do?

Offline popcorn1508

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2006 on: August 18, 2015, 08:37:17 PM »
On my ticket it says I can mail it by Registered, Certified, or First Class Mail, with return receipt requested,
It says I need to mail it within 48 hours and the time is almost up, my only option now is regular mail, what should I do?
The 48 hour rule is not in force. You have until the "return date" on the bottom of the ticket.

Offline Centro

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2007 on: August 18, 2015, 08:45:07 PM »

They're strict on the mailing method?

Offline popcorn1508

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2008 on: August 18, 2015, 10:46:54 PM »
They're strict on the mailing method?
I don't know but I remember it costs me like $7 bucks to mail it out according to what they wanted.

Offline Hirshthg

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    • Zev Goldstein Esq. New York Traffic Ticket Lawyer
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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2009 on: August 19, 2015, 02:26:04 PM »
So I should just plea not guilty by mail and then set a court date, right?
Yes, although I said the max fine is 1k not 10k:)

On my ticket it says I can mail it by Registered, Certified, or First Class Mail, with return receipt requested,

It says I need to mail it within 48 hours and the time is almost up, my only option now is regular mail, what should I do?

The 48 hour rule is not in effect. You can have until the "return date" on the bottom left of the ticket (next to the return address).

They're strict on the mailing method?

I don't know but I remember it costs me like $7 bucks to mail it out according to what they wanted.
You can mail it to them however you would like (0.48?) however if the court doesn't get your plea, its on you.
« Last Edit: August 19, 2015, 02:29:31 PM by Hirshthg »

Offline Centro

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2010 on: August 19, 2015, 03:28:49 PM »
Yes, although I said the max fine is 1k not 10k:)
 
The 48 hour rule is not in effect. You can have until the "return date" on the bottom left of the ticket (next to the return address).
You can mail it to them however you would like (0.48?) however if the court doesn't get your plea, its on you.
Thanks!

Offline dz164

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2011 on: August 19, 2015, 05:17:19 PM »
Now it's my turn...

...in Monsey, the officer claimed in didn't make a total stop at the stop sign for which he gave me a "FLD TO STOP @ STOP SIGN",
.....

Just went through this in ramapo town court. just speak (nicely!) to the prosecutor. Not difficult to get a plea to a lessor charge. Instead of 3 points and up to $300 in fines (for the stop sign), I plead to essentially a parking ticket = no points + $125 fine + $25 costs. All done in under an hour

Towns are looking for revenue without the costs of trials and they really dont care if you get points (and pay more money to the insurance companies). It is a simple racket business.

Offline Sam Finkelstein

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2012 on: August 19, 2015, 05:27:11 PM »
I got gridlocked today in midtown Manhattan, and there were traffic cops on foot swarming the area. While they did had out tickets to a few drivers, they didn't give me one. Do I have any cause for concern that they'll mail me one?
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Offline Centro

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2013 on: August 19, 2015, 06:42:41 PM »
Just went through this in ramapo town court. just speak (nicely!) to the prosecutor. Not difficult to get a plea to a lessor charge. Instead of 3 points and up to $300 in fines (for the stop sign), I plead to essentially a parking ticket = no points + $125 fine + $25 costs. All done in under an hour

Towns are looking for revenue without the costs of trials and they really dont care if you get points (and pay more money to the insurance companies). It is a simple racket business.
Thanks for the info,
BTW what took an hour, your session?

Offline Dr Moose

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2014 on: August 19, 2015, 06:52:20 PM »
My Ramapo ticket is tomorrow, and I just wanna know what do I say to prosecutor to try to negotiate my ticket to a parking ticket?

Do I let them decide what it should be? Or do I throw out a number hoping they'll bait?
Hey there! I am using DansDeals Forums.

Offline Centro

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2015 on: August 19, 2015, 06:53:32 PM »
Yeah, if anyone can explain the process....

I've never been to court, no idea how to eat it.

Offline dz164

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2016 on: August 19, 2015, 08:06:33 PM »
parking to pulling out of the lot took an hour

the prosecutor will do most of the talking and should offer you a deal.

bring cash. CC is 2.99% and no personal checks are accepted.

Offline Centro

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2017 on: August 19, 2015, 08:12:44 PM »
parking to pulling out of the lot took an hour
Cool.
Quote

the prosecutor will do most of the talking and should offer you a deal.
That's before he listens to you?
Do I need to explain my side of the story and minimize my violation or there's no need and won't help?
Quote

bring cash. CC is 2.99% and no personal checks are accepted.
Good to know.

Offline Sam Finkelstein

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2018 on: August 19, 2015, 08:13:38 PM »
parking to pulling out of the lot took an hour

the prosecutor will do most of the talking and should offer you a deal.

bring cash. CC is 2.99% and no personal checks are accepted.

Too bad they don't run it like LA, where you can use a CC to pay in advance of your hearing, and are given a check if found not guilty.
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Offline dz164

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Re: Traffic Tickets
« Reply #2019 on: August 19, 2015, 08:20:47 PM »
he's not interested in your story. he wants to close the case,ring the town cash register and move on. stories are for trials he told someone today.

remember that all this advice is coming from someone that did a sum total of two plea deals ever...