How much will a speeding ticket in New York impact your licesne? Are you in danger of losing your driving privileges, or will another ticket affect your employment?
In any of these situations and countless others, the wisest choice is to consult the Law Office of James Lynch - NY speeding ticket lawyers.
When it comes to a speeding ticket NY drivers know that a single driving infraction can be a huge headache. The paperwork alone is confusing enough. But then there is the steep financial impact from taking time off from work for multiple court appearances, plus fines, surcharges, and increased insurance premiums.
An ordinary ticket is more than just a minor problem.
What you need is an attorney with the right kind of legal experience to save you time and money, and who will use his experience to minimize these problems and penalties. The attorneys at the Law Office of James Lynch will work to reduce the charges, and in some cases, get your tickets dismissed.
It is important that you hire a traffic ticket lawyer NY who understands speeding ticket issues. At this firm, our lawyers know and work well with the court clerks, judges, and the prosecutors.
Let them put their skill, knowledge, and years of earned good will to work for you.
Don't Forget Surcharges
NY state imposes surcharges on top of any fine you have to pay. Surcharges are outside of the judge’s control and are mandatory taxes that NY collects on every traffic ticket.
Additionally, if you accumulate six or more points on your license, NY imposes a yearly Driver Assessment Fee. For six points, NY imposes a $300 fee and an additional $75 for each point above six.
Driver's License Points Add Up
If you are convicted for driving between 1 and 10 mph over the speed limit, the NY State DMV assesses three points to the driver's license.
A conviction of speeding between 11 and 20 mph over the posted limit will impose four points.
Six points are assessed upon a conviction between 21 and 30 mph over the limit.
For convictions of 31 to 40 mph, 8 or 11 points are imposed on your license, respectively.
The DMV uses this point system to identify high-risk drivers. In addition to a Driver Assessment Fee, your insurance company will likely increase your premium or even terminate your coverage.
Car Insurance Premiums Skyrocket
Yet another cost associated with a speeding ticket is an insurance premium increase.
Insurance companies routinely review how many points you have on your record. Even one relatively minor speeding ticket can be responsible for a dramatic increase in the rates that you pay for insurance.
It is not uncommon for one speeding ticket to cause a 30% increase in the cost of automobile insurance premiums.
When packaged with all of the other fines/taxes/fees that are associated with a NY speeding ticket, the Law Office of James Lynch encourages you to do everything they can to avoid pleading guilty.
Fight a New York Speeding Ticket
Too many New York drivers mistakenly believe that simply paying the fine is the best way to deal with a speeding ticket. They regard the situation as just an irritating inconvenience. The sooner they can finish with it, the better.
This is an inadvisable approach for many reasons.
Paying the fine on a speeding ticket is the same as pleading guilty. The police and the justice system want you to do this because it makes their jobs much easier.
Plus, most drivers just don't realize that they actually have a choice. They don't have to just pay the fine, which means being subject to points on their license, increased insurance premiums and having to pay all sorts of surcharges and fees.
Drivers also may not consider the larger consequences of having more points assessed on their driving record. When too many points accumulate in an 18-month period, then the driver's license may be suspended or revoked.
How inconvenience would your life become if you couldn't legally get behind the wheel?
Also, consider this: Is your employment in some measure based on you holding a valid driver's license or CDL? If so, then a suspended or revoked license may mean that you'll soon be looking for a new job.
When you consider all of the consequences that come from pleading guilty to a speeding ticket, it becomes clear that you need to find an alternative.
Find a NY Traffic Ticket Lawyer to Help
With fines, surcharges, increases in insurance premiums and more, it's clear that a speeding ticket easily can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Avoiding these costs makes the idea of fighting the charges look tempting.
However, you may be worried about how much time that will take.
It is true that fighting a speeding ticket can be time-consuming. You'll have to appear in court at least once, and that's never convenient. Taking time off of work, finding a babysitter and just physically getting to the court are all enough to induce a headache.
Fortunately, you have the option of hiring a New York speeding ticket attorney. Once this is done, you can relax, knowing that the matter is in the hands of a seasoned legal professional who can handle the whole thing for you.
That's right. Your attorney can even appear in court on your behalf.
In most cases, a skilled and qualified attorney may be able to get a speeding ticket reduced or dismissed. Many courts are willing to reduce a speeding ticket down to a non-moving violation. Downgrading a ticket to a charge such as the failure to obey a traffic control device may still add a couple of points to your license, but it's far less costly than a speeding ticket.
It may be possible for your attorney to help you to avoid fines, surcharges and points. That means that your insurance premiums aren't likely to go up either.
New York Speeding Tickets Facts
Upon first glance, a speeding ticket looks like a really complicated document. Many drivers have a hard time deciphering what they're charged with and what their next steps are.
Let's take a closer look at a typical New York speeding ticket to learn more.
This first section of the ticket includes information about the driver. Basic data like the driver's name, address and the type of car they are driving is included here. You'll also find the ticket number in this space.
Below this is the section where the charges are explained. This area identifies the law that the driver allegedly violated. Also found here are the police officer's information and the date and location of the incident.
The third section is critical as it contains the court information and the plea deadline. In addition to the name and address of the pertinent court, this section tells you how to make a plea. Typically, a plea may be made either by mail or in person. A strict deadline is imposed for entering a plea.
In the fourth section, the driver has the opportunity to plead guilty. It is rarely advisable to go this route, even if the driver thinks that they actually may be guilty. Pleading not guilty at this time merely ensures that you can get a trial date at a later time. If necessary, you can change your plea in court.
Accordingly, this section also gives you the opportunity to plead not guilty. This gives you the chance to strike a plea bargain or go to trial.