Legal Question in Traffic Law in New York

While driving truck, I received 3 traffic violations in New York City, at first I was going to fight them and then decided it wasn't worth it, the problem is that I thought my wife paid them and she thought I had, do to the times I have been unemployed for 2 years and still am (unemployment is done and struggling off of my wife's pay) I have found work with a pool refurbishing co. but it will not get going until some time in Sept. I have tried to contact someone in NY but have not been able to reach a human being. What can I do to either have them dismissed or reduced to the original fines? My wife and I are struggling to make ends meet now and not being able to change my license over is just going to make things more difficult.


Asked on 8/22/10, 6:10 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Joel Salinger Law Office of Joel R. Salinger

I wish I had better news for you but getting them dismissed or reduced in points or fines is going to be next to impossible. With in the City of New York, traffic violations are handled by a division of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles called the Traffic Violations Bureau. TVB as we call it, is an administrative law court system that does not have the authority to dismiss tickets unless the ticket is defective, improper or you are found not guilty after trial. They don't even have the authority to reduce the tickets back down unless you or a legal representative appear in court and give a reasonable excuse. Since the tickets have already gone into default, your license has probably been suspended and the suspension lift fee will also be assessed to your license and you will also face what Albany calls the Driver Responsibility Assessment for having more than 6 points on your license.

Your best bet is to hire an attorney who knows the ins and outs of TVB and see if they can get the case opened and possibly finished to your satisfaction but that will probably eliminate what you are trying to save.

If I can be of further assistance, you can contact me at 516-746-4747 or by e-mail at [email protected]. I appear in TVB on a regular basis.

Joel R. Salinger

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Answered on 8/27/10, 2:47 pm


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