New York Speeding Tickets FAQ
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If you received a speeding ticket in New York, call us now at (888) 752-3383,
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Below are answers to some common questions we hear about speeding tickets in New York.
Q: Will I have to go to Court for my speeding ticket?
A: No. In most cases we resolve speeding tickets and other traffic charges without you having to go to Court. There are a few courts where you will have to attend, but that is very rare.
Q: Do I need a lawyer for a speeding ticket?
A: You don’t need a lawyer, but in many courts we will get you a better result than you will get for yourself. Read more about this on our “Why Hire A Traffic Lawyer?” page.
Q: What courts do your lawyers cover?
A: Our lawyers handle speeding tickets and other traffic cases for all of New York State. Call us to find out more. (888) 752-3383.
Q: Will my insurance rates go up if I get a speeding ticket?
A: A speeding conviction or other moving violation will be reported on your New York State driving record. If you are insured in New York, some violations can affect your insurance. Under Insurance Law § 2335, speeds of 15 mph or less over the limit (i.e. 80 in a 65) should not affect your rates. Also, having one “other” moving violation should not affect your rates. However, this law is written in a confusing manner, and insurance companies may not all follow the law. It is safer to keep your record as clean as possible. The best way to keep your rates down is to get a good lawyer.
Your insurance policy should have a merit rating plan which may tell you a little more.
For out-of-state drivers, there is no simple answer. New York State reports most moving violations to the “Drivers License Compact”, and this can affect insurance rates in your home state – even if the same violation would not affect NY insurance.
For most states it looks like NY speeding tickets (and other traffic convictions) will affect your insurance rates and driving record. We have seen NY tickets on driving records for a number of states, including New Jersey, Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and quite a few other states. New York also reports moving violations of Quebec and Ontario drivers directly to those provinces. Call us at (888) 752-3383 to discuss how we can help protect your home state (or province) driving record.
For New York drivers who get out-of-state tickets, these generally will not affect you. However, tickets from Quebec and Ontario can affect a NY driving record. It is always possible that your insurance company will find out about an out-of-state violation, and if they do, your rates might go up.
When our lawyers negotiate plea bargains, we do our best to minimize the impact on your insurance rates. We will try to get you a reduction to a non-moving violation with no points, which does not affect your insurance. If that fails, there is at least one particular 2-point violation that does not seem to affect insurance, and we will try for that. For out-of-state drivers, we might seek a reduction to something that has points in New York but not in your state or province.
Q: Can we beat a speeding ticket or traffic charge?
A: Yes, but …
There are two different worlds in New York State. For tickets in New York City, parts of Long Island, and the cities of Buffalo and Rochester (but not their suburbs), cases are heard in the Traffic Violations Bureau. It’s complicated, but we win a substantial number of these cases.
For the rest of NY, most speeding tickets and traffic charges are difficult to beat and it will cost a lot more to fight than to make a deal. The police usually do a good job and most defendants are guilty. Still, the police sometimes slip up. The most common way you can beat a ticket is if the officer doesn’t show up. That is very rare. When we fight tickets, we often challenge the radar and/or laser (Lidar), and in many cases we are able to keep that out of evidence. This, in turn, makes it a lot easier to win the case.
The main reason you would fight a ticket is if you already have a bad record and we can’t get a reduction that will save it. Also, if your job requires a clean license, it may be cost effective. Call us and our lawyers will review your case.
Q: What is the point system?
A: For NY drivers, details are below. Other states have different point systems. Generally, points do not transfer from one state to the other because the point systems are different. Some states recognize violations from other states and assign points according to their own system. NY generally ignores tickets from other states – as long as you don’t ignore them.
When you get convicted of a moving violation the DMV records points on your New York record (even if you don’t have a NY license). All moving violations are at least two points. Most are three points or more. Speeding tickets range from three to eleven points. New York recently added a new surcharge of $100 per year for three years if you get six points, plus $25 per year for each additional point. That works out to $300 for six points, $450 for eight points, and $600 for ten points.
The following table shows the point values assigned to moving traffic violations. The “points” are assessed against your driving record based on the date you committed the violation, not the date you were convicted in court. If you accumulate 11 or more points in 18 months, you will be called to a DMV hearing, after which your license may be suspended or revoked. You will be offered the option of waiving the hearing or accepting a definite period of suspension.
Some license revocations and suspensions are mandatory and do not depend on points. These include three speeding violations within 18 months, and convictions involving alcohol or drugs.
| VIOLATIONS | POINTS |
| Speeding (mph over posted limit) |
|
| 1 to 10 | 3 |
| 11 to 20 | 4 |
| 21 to 30 | 6 |
| 31 to 40 | 8 |
| More than 40 | 11 |
| Reckless Driving |
5 |
| Failure to stop for a School Bus | 5 |
| Following too closely (tailgating) | 4 |
| Inadequate Brakes | 4 |
| (while driving employer’s vehicle) |
2 |
| Failing to Yield Right-Of-Way | 3 |
| Violation Involving Traffic Signal, Stop Sign, or Yield Sign |
3 |
| Railroad Crossing Violation | 3 |
| Improper Passing or Lane Use | 3 |
| Leaving scene of an incident involving property damage or injury to an animal |
3 |
| Child safety restraint violation | 3 |
| Cell phone or texting violation | 5 |
| Any other moving violation | 2 |
See our breakdown of a NY speeding ticket and our page on New York speeding fines.
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Feifer & Greenberg LLP
291 Broadway, Suite 300
New York, NY 10007
NY Speeding Ticket Lawyer