Legal Question in Traffic Law in New York

Here goes my sob story. Went up to the Albany area to visit family over the Memorial Day weekend from Dayton, Ohio. Vacation was going good until I was halfway home on June 1. Got across the NYS border with PA and after about maybe a 1/2 mile to a mile I saw flashing lights in my rearview mirror. I was pulled over by a New York State trooper. ddin't know that police could cross state borders, but now know that to be a wrong assumption. Anyway, he said he clocked me before the the Ripley toll booth (last toll in NYS) area going 84 in a 65. The ticket he issued me said he had me by direct observation and that it was backed up by radar. Ddin't ask too many questions, but he was very polite and I was too. I have a court date to be up in Ripley, NY on June 28. Obviously, being in Dayton I will not have any means of making an appearance there.My wife thinks that I should eat the cost of the ticket and fines, points etc. but I don't want my insurance rates going up aagain. Last year I got pulled over by a Colonie police officer on rt 9 SB and he handed me a ticket for failure to signal lane change. I was in a rental car. A red Dodge Charger with NY plates and an expired inspection sticker. I personally think I was unfairly target, but whats done is done. I plead guitly to the ticket and my insurance premium per month went from $93 up to $107. I'm basically wondering what advice all of you on here would give a poor sap like me. Thanks you in advance for your time!

Regards,

James in Dayton


Asked on 6/18/10, 6:15 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Traffic Lawyer Matthew Weiss - Weiss & Associates, PC

James,

You should follow your instincts and fight the ticket. Your ticket is a high speed (19 mph over) and thus could impact your insurance rates. As you learned from the Colonie ticket, a NY conviction is reported to the PA DMV and your PA insurance company will find out about it.

Further, because you have 2 points already and because the Ripley ticket carries 4 points, if you plead guilty, you'll have to pay a fine and surcharge (about $200) PLUS a $300 Driver Assessment Fee. By fighting it, you can likely save this extra $300 fee.

Feel free to visit my website for more information about the Driver Assessment Fee and fighting tickets in New York.

By the way, if coming back from Dayton proves to difficult or time-consuming, a New York traffic lawyer can handle the case without you needing to be there. Of course, there would be a fee but saving the $300 Driver Assessment Fee will offset part of it.

Feel free to call us for a free consultation.

Matthew Weiss, Esq

212-683-7373

www.nytrafficticket.com

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Answered on 6/20/10, 5:43 am


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