Serving Westchester County & New York City

​Being convicted for a traffic violation can become a real headache—and an expense. For every traffic violation with which you are charged, if the traffic court finds you guilty you can face serious penalties, including having points added to your license. For example, in New York State, if you're convicted of speeding 25 miles over the posted speed limit you can receive 6 points on your license and if you are convicted of improper cell phone use you can receive 5 points on y

It's true that, with the summer approaching, exam season is almost over. But why not take a few minutes of your time to test yourself on today's traffic laws. Take this quiz to assess your traffic law IQ and avoid getting into legal trouble on the roads. 1. You can't get a ticket for cell phone use as long as you're speaking through a Bluetooth wireless connection. True___ False _____ 2. It’s perfectly okay to toot your horn if you’re trying to urge the driver in front of you

My clients are inevitably shocked, dismayed, and frustrated when they have their driver's licenses suspended. The most common reasons for getting a definite suspension order in New York State are: not having automobile liability insurance having a conviction for an alcohol or drugged driving charge having received multiple traffic violations, totaling 11 points within an 18-month period not following the rules for junior drivers The reasons for receiving an indefinite suspens

When you receive a traffic violation, it’s natural to ask yourself: “Should I hire a traffic ticket lawyer to handle this?” My advice: Call a traffic lawyer as soon as you receive the ticket to discuss your case. I always offer people a free phone consultation so they understand the issues involved and can make an informed decision. Note: you only have 15 days to answer traffic tickets so call a traffic attorney ASAP. Here’s what you need to consider when deciding whether to

The only thing more frustrating than receiving a traffic ticket may be losing one. Unfortunately, replacing a lost ticket can be harder than you think. Here's what you need to know to remedy the situation: 1. If your traffic ticket was marked Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB) on the bottom, you're in luck. Go to: https://dmv.ny.gov/tickets/get-copy-tvb-ticket, fill out the requested information, and you will be able to order a replacement. 2. If yours was a parking or moving v

Like many people, you may think it's no big deal when you get a traffic ticket. The idea of fighting it may seem too time-consuming, too costly, or too futile. Just paying up may seem a lot simpler than taking time off from work to go to traffic court and a lot less expensive than hiring a traffic lawyer to fight your ticket. But getting a speeding ticket isn't just a matter of paying a costly fine. It only takes a few tickets to start adding points to your DMV record and to

You probably assume that if you're arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)—also known as DUI (Driving Under the Influence)—you have no defense and it's a lost cause to fight the charge. False! The penalties for a DWI/DUI charge in New York include hefty fines, the suspension or revocation of your driver's license for up to one year, and required installation of an ignition interlock device on any vehicles registered in your name. These consequences will have serious repe

​ ​​ ​Leaving the scene of an accident is a serious crime with maximum penalties potentially adding up to thousands of dollars in fines and years in prison. The consequences for driving away from the scene of a car accident vary, depending on whether anyone was hurt or the driver has prior convictions for the same driving offense. These are the charges and penalties you may face in New York State if you drive away from the scene of a car accident: If neither a person or anima

One of the biggest mistakes people make when receiving a traffic ticket is to automatically plead guilty and pay the fine. Instead, follow these five steps and there's a strong possibility you'll either reduce the number of points added to your driving record, eliminate points altogether, lower your fine, and and keep your car insurance low. Here's what to do: 1. REMEDY THE PROBLEM ASAP. If you receive a summons for an equipment violation, such as having tinted car windows,

As an experienced traffic attorney, I've found that few people know what the term "reckless driving" means and what its penalties are. And that's unfortunate because in New York State, reckless driving is considered a misdemeanor—which is defined as a criminal charge and results in a criminal record. Driving recklessly is not to be taken lightly, so it's important to be in the know to prevent safety and legal problems. Q. What is reckless driving? A. Reckless driving is defin

The roads surrounding school buildings, considered school zones, typically have reduced speed limits to ensure the safety of students. Heavy speeding fines will be imposed if you ignore those speed limits Speed limits in school zones can vary, although the lowest speed limit that is allowed in New York is 15 miles per hour. It can extend about a quarter of a mile away from the school. Fines for driving over the speed limit vary, depending on how fast you're going over the spe

Having your driver's license suspended can be devastating for many reasons. It can lead to pricey fines, incarceration, and, at the very least, a great deal of inconvenience, especially if you need to drive to get to your job. Here are some of the serious repercussions of driving with a suspended license in New York State. As you can see they depend on various circumstances: Aggravated Unlicensed Operation (AUO) of a motor vehicle in the Third Degree (AUO 3rd)—In most cases,