Otsego County is a largely rural county in central New York with a steady dairy farm industry. The exact origin of the name is unclear, deriving from either the Mohawk or Oneida word (possibly both) which means “the place of the rock.” The county covers about 1,000 square miles and is the northernmost county in the Appalachian Region. The Bassett Medical Center, the headquarters of Bassett Healthcare Network, employs more than 3,000 of Otsego’s 59,700 residents.

Don’t make the mistake of paying an Otsego County speeding ticket. Those who hope to just “make it go away” will instead find themselves paying huge fines, incurring points, and seeing insurance rates rise rapidly. Instead, it would be better to hire an attorney to fight the underlying charges. 

New York Speeding Ticket Costs

Speeding tickets issued in any county in NYS can be very costly. Fines run between $150 to $600, in some cases even higher. Each ticket also comes with a mandatory NYS surcharge of $88 or $93. A possible DMV Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA) fee is charged to drivers who reach at least 6 points on their license within 18 months. A DRA costs $300 plus $75 for each additional point. Even worse, auto insurance rates can rise by hundreds of dollars each year for several years upon conviction.

Speeding Tickets Data from Otsego County NY

In 2018, speeding tickets comprised 34.4% of all tickets issued in Otsego County. The number of speeding tickets issued any given year varies more widely in Otsego than in other U.S. counties, with figures rising and falling by as much as 40% in some years, including between 2017 and 2018. More than half—52%–of speeding tickets were issued on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The vast majority were written by State Troopers: 91%! 

Drivers charged with speeding in Otsego County can choose to fight the charge(s) against them and either win a dismissal or negotiate a reduction in fines and points. In New York State, only about 7.8% of drivers get their ticket dismissed. With such a high conviction rate, drivers will likely need the help of a skilled attorney to avoid suffering the full penalties.

Otsego County Geography and How It Relates to Traffic Tickets

The largely rural Otsego County experiences a moderate amount of vehicle traffic most years. Some of this is tourism, as the county is home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Otsego also has a notable arts community, including the Glimmerglass Opera. Drivers also pass through Otsego on I-88, which connects the I-81 in Binghamton to the New York Thruway (I-90) in Schenectady. Students attending SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College also frequent the roads. With such lightly traveled roads compared to other NY counties, police are sure to notice those who do not obey speed limits and other traffic laws. 

Hiring an Otsego County Speeding Ticket Lawyer

In addition to the hefty fees, a speeding ticket can cause increases in auto insurance premiums for several years. At the same time, ignoring the ticket can result in having one’s driving privileges in NY suspended and even revoked. Drivers who are charged with speeding or other traffic violations have the option to fight the charge and possibly win a dismissal or negotiate a reduction in fines and points.

An experienced traffic defense attorney can analyze the traffic violation matter and provide a solid defense, keeping the fines and points to a minimum. In almost all cases, a person who hires an attorney will not be required to come to court.

If you received a speeding ticket in Otsego County, contact Rosenblum Law. Our traffic ticket attorneys represent clients in Burlington, Butternuts, Cherry Valley, Decatur, Edmeston, Exeter, Hartwick, Laurens, Maryland, Middlefield, Milford, Morris, New Lisbon, Oneonta, Otego, Otsego, Pittsfield, Plainfield, Richfield, Roseboom, Springfield, Unadilla, Westford, and Worcester. Call 888-434-0406 or email Rosenblum Law today for a free consultation about your case.

Speeding Ticket in Other Counties

Tompkins County is named in honor of Daniel D. Tompkins, who served as the fourth Governor of New York (1807 to 1817) and sixth Vice President of the United States of America (1817 to 1825). Although known for its beautiful waterfalls and lakefront property, Tompkins is prized for being home to two world-class universities: Cornell University and Ithaca College. Many of the county’s thriving industries rely on these schools to supply them with educated and intellectual labor and other resources. 

Drivers should never pay a speeding ticket issued in Tompkins County. The hidden costs and penalties that come with a conviction can shock many unsuspecting individuals. These penalties could be avoided by calling an experienced traffic ticket lawyer who can beat or reduce the charge.

New York State Speeding Ticket Costs

A driver charged with speeding in NY can expect a fine of $150 to $600 in most cases. What most don’t expect, is the mandatory state surcharge of $88 or $93 that comes with each offense. In addition, if the ticket puts the total number of points on the license at 6 or more, the driver will be charged a Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA) fee by the DMV. The DRA is a separate fine and costs $300 for the first 6 points and $75 for each additional point. Once the speeding ticket appears on the driver’s record, his/her auto insurer is likely to raise rates by hundreds of dollars per month for several years.

Speeding Tickets Data from Tompkins County NY

Drivers in Tompkins County received 3,084 speeding tickets in 2018, just slightly more than the number written in 2017 (3,038). Speeding tickets made up about 20% of all tickets issued last year in the county, just slightly more than the statewide average of 18.6%. Weekends were the worst time to be speeding in Tompkins County last year, as a third of all such tickets were issued on Saturdays and Sunday. State Troopers were the most aggressive in enforcing speeding in Tompkins County in 2018, handing out almost 75% of the tickets. 

Drivers hit with speeding tickets in Tompkins County would be well advised to fight the ticket and either get it dismissed or reduced to a low-point/no-point violation. Less than 7% of drivers were able to get their speeding ticket dismissed in Tompkins County courts last year. With such a high conviction rate, drivers should seek the help of a skilled attorney to avoid the worst consequences.

Tompkins County Geography and How It Relates to Traffic Tickets

Located near the finger lakes, Tompkins County cannot be directly accessed by any interstate highways. However, a number of state routes converge in the county around the city of Ithaca, including NY Routes 79, 34 and 96. Despite the lack of major thruways, the county experiences nearly 2 million vehicle miles of travel within its borders each year. This includes a mix of tourists and daily commuters (both local and those from nearby counties). Students attending Cornell University and Ithaca College also traverse the roads, giving police much to keep an eye on. 

Hiring a Tompkins County Speeding Ticket Lawyer

A speeding ticket in New York State is a serious matter. Any driver charged with speeding needs the help of an experienced traffic ticket attorney. An attorney offers the best chance of reducing or beating the ticket and thus avoiding the worst penalties. The best part is that, in most cases, those who hire legal representation may not have to show up to court themselves.

Contact the Rosenblum Law Firm to assist you with your speeding ticket matter in Tompkins County. We can offer you a free consultation about your case and have our attorneys fight on your behalf. Our attorneys have represented clients in all the courts in Tompkins County for both traffic and criminal matters including Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Enfield, Groton, Ithaca, Lansing, Newfield, and Ulysses. Call 888-434-0406 or email Rosenblum Law today for a free consultation about your case.

Speeding Ticket in Other Counties

Named after the river that forms part of the boundary between Canada and New York, St. Lawrence County is the largest county in the state, with an area greater than the entire state of Delaware. Of the county’s 2,600 square feet, the bottom third reside within the Adirondack Park. It is one of several NY counties that border Ontario and one of just two that border Quebec. 

Paying a St. Lawrence speeding ticket means accepting huge fines, points on one’s license, and major insurance increases. Drivers would be well advised to hire an attorney to fight the underlying charges. 

New York Speeding Ticket Costs

The fine for a speeding ticket in St. Lawrence County starts at around $150 and go as high as $600 or more. Drivers are often surprised to find they must also pay a NYS surcharge of $88 or $93. If the ticket puts one’s point total at 6 or more, the DMV charges a Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA) fee. A DRA costs $300 for the first 6 points and $75 for each additional point. If convicted of a speeding ticket, one’s auto insurance rates will likely increase by several hundred dollars per year.

Speeding Tickets Data from St. Lawrence County NY

Police in St. Lawrence issued 5,077 speeding tickets in 2018, which was just shy of a quarter of all tickets written that year. The weekends were the worst time to drive in St. Lawrence County last year, as half of all speeding tickets were issued on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Of those who were ticketed, 82% were New Yorkers. Despite the county having two border crossings, only 2.9% of speeding tickets went to Canadian drivers.

Drivers charged with speeding in St. Lawrence County should fight the charges against them. This may be challenging as less than one-in-10 were able to get their ticket dismissed in St. Lawrence last year. Those who hire a skilled traffic attorney will likely get better results. An attorney can either win a dismissal or negotiate to have the ticket reduced to a low- or no-point violation.

St. Lawrence County Geography and How It Relates to Traffic Tickets

St. Lawrence County is a mix of private and public lands, with several hamlets, paper and wood products industries, and vacation destinations in the Adirondack Park. There are no interstate highways in the county, although U.S. Route 11 and several state routes run through it, providing pathways for drivers from adjacent counties to reach Canada. In addition, students are a staple on St. Lawrence roads, as the sizable county is home to several colleges, including SUNY Potsdam and its Crane School of Music, Clarkson University, St. Lawrence University, SUNY Canton Technical College, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Ranger School, and Wadhams Hall and Seminary. With the county experiencing 2.7 million vehicle miles traveled each year, police watch the traffic carefully for those who would make the roads unsafe. 

Hiring a St. Lawrence County Speeding Ticket Lawyer

A speeding ticket in St. Lawrence County can result in heavy fines, points, and a hike in auto insurance premiums. Drivers ticketed for speeding or other traffic violation can choose to fight the charge and aim to either win a dismissal or negotiate a reduction in fines and points. This is difficult to do, however, unless one hires an experienced traffic ticket attorney. In most cases, a person who hires an attorney does not need to come to court in person.

If you received a speeding ticket in St. Lawrence County, contact Rosenblum Law. Our traffic ticket attorneys represent clients in Brasher, Canton, Clare, Clifton, Colton, De Kalb, De Peyster, Edwards, Fine, Fowler, Gouverneur, Hammond, Hermon, Hopkinton, Lawrence, Lisbon, Louisville, Macomb, Madrid, Massena, Morristown, Norfolk, Oswegatchie, Parishville, Piercefield, Pierrepont, Pitcairn, Potsdam, Rossie, Russell, Stockholm, and Waddington. Call us today at 888-434-0406.

Speeding Ticket in Other Counties

• Albany
• Cattaraugus
• Cortland
• Chautauqua
• Columbia
• Delaware
• Dutchess
• Erie
• Essex
• Genesee
• Herkimer
• Jefferson
• Monroe
• Montgomery
• Nassau
• Niagara
• Oneida
• Onondaga
• Ontario
• Orange
• Otsego
• Oswego
• Putnam
• Rensselaer
• Rockland
• Saratoga
• Schenectady
• Steuben
• Suffolk
• Sullivan
• Ulster
• Warren
• Westchester

Thousands of people commute from New York to New Jersey and New Jersey to New York daily.  In addition, countless NJ residents vacation in NY and New Yorkers vacation in New Jersey.

With all of this traveling between states, many speeding tickets are issued by the respective state police officers to drivers from the neighboring state.  Awareness of the fines and points given by each state may affect how you drive when crossing the line from NY to NJ (or vice versa).

New York

A first-time conviction for speeding in New York costs between $45 and $600.  Listed below is the amount of fine for the type of speeding violation: in a normal zone:

• 1 to 10 mph is $45 – $150
• 11 to 30 mph is $90 – $300
• 31+  mph is $180 – $600

If you are convicted of a second NY speeding ticket, the maximum fine may be increased by up to $150.  For a third conviction, the fine may be raised by up to $375.

These fines do not take into account the New York State surcharge of $85 that is tacked onto NY traffic tickets.  Also, there is a Driver Assessment Fee that must be paid when a motorist accumulates 6 or more points on their driver’s record.  The fee is $300 for 6 points and $75 for every point above 6.

Although points are not fines per se, but they impact your driving privileges and automobile insurance premiums.  Following is a list of the points for the speeding violation:

• Speeding 1 to 10 mph is 3 points
• Speeding 11 to 20 mph is 4 points
• Speeding 21 to 30 mph is 6 points
• Speeding 31 to 40 mph is 8 points
• Speeding 41+ mph is 11 points

New Jersey

New Jersey fines are typically less than New York.

• 1-9 mph is $77
• 10-14 mph in a zone less than 65 mph is $87
• 10-14 mph in a 65 mph zone is $152
• 15-19 mph in a zone less than 65 mph is $97
• 15-19 mph in a 65 mph zone is $172
• 20-24 mph above limit: $192
• 25-29 mph above limit: $212
• 30-34 mph above limit: $232
• 35-39 mph above limit: $252
• 40-44 mph above limit: $272

Similar to NY, points are not fines, but impact insurance costs.  Following is a list of the points tacked onto your NJ driving record.

• Speeding 1-14 mph over limit is 2 points
• Speeding  15-29 mph over limit is 4 points4
• Speeding 30 mph or more over limit is 5 points

Whether you receive a NY speeding ticket or a NJ speeding ticket, the fines and points are costly.  The first step towards combating your ticket is to contact an aggressive traffic attorney who has successfully represented drivers in both NY and NJ traffic courts.

Rosenblum Law, with offices in Albany, NY and Newark, NJ, is staffed by aggressive traffic lawyers who are available to assist you.   call 888-434-0406 today.

Many of us have gone to traffic court in order to fight our tickets. We think that we know what to do in order to get them dismissed, but we walk out of the courthouse upset and extremely frustrated. The following article is for those who find themselves in this exact situation and those who hope to avoid being in it.

Below you will find the top 10 mistakes that people make at traffic court.

1.  Not Hiring a Traffic Ticket Attorney

Drivers think that it will be way too costly to hire an attorney. The truth is, however, most attorneys charge a one-time, flat flee that is relatively inexpensive.

Additionally, an attorney will allow you to cut the line and negotiate with the prosecutor much faster.

If you are represented by counsel, the judge will also allow you to make your appearance before everyone else who did not hire an attorney.

Aside from these perks, an attorney brings genuine knowledge of the law to your case and has more pull than you do when it comes to negotiating with a prosecutor.

After all, traffic ticket attorneys spend most of their time negotiating with prosecutors and have a much better feel than you do for getting the best deal.

2.  Not Showing Up to Court

Many people make the mistake of thinking they can ignore their court appearance altogether, whether the ticket said it was mandatory or not.

Some think that the police officer has no understanding of what compels you to appear or not, so they think they can simply choose not to attend.

Worse yet, others think that so many tickets get issued that yours would slip through the cracks and be forgotten about.

This is a horrible mistake.

Aside from the fact that every ticket issued in New York is digitally recorded in a system (making it virtually impossible for yours to slip through the cracks), failing to appear carries with it serious consequences.

Since failing to attend could result in a warrant for your arrest being issued, the traffic ticket will be the least of your problems if you do not show up to court.

3.  Not Negotiating With the Prosecutor

Drivers who do not wait on line to talk with the prosecutor are making a huge mistake. Although a prosecutor will be much more hesitant to cut you a deal if you appear without an attorney, it is always worth asking for one.

Wayne Gretzky famously said that you miss 100% of the shots you never take. Likewise, if you never try to negotiate with the prosecutor, you will never get a favorable plea bargain. It is as simple as that.

Never make the error of thinking the line is too long or convincing yourself that the judge is going to side with you over the prosecutor.

As a general rule, take the shot; it might just go in the goal.

4.  Arguing With the Prosecutor

Those of us who do wait in line to negotiate with the prosecutor make the mistake of arguing with him.

This is probably the worst thing you can do when you are only going to be given 3 minutes (at most) of his time.

Instead, carefully and succinctly explain your side and make a request for a lesser offense.

If you feel that strongly about your innocence, request that the ticket be dismissed and explain, as eloquently as possible, why you feel that way.

5.  Making a Fairness Defense Instead of a Legal Defense

Whether you are negotiating with the prosecutor or explaining your case to a judge, never say that the law is unfair.

Even when skilled lawyers appeal to fairness arguments in traffic court, they are usually shut down immediately.

No prosecutor or judge is interested in hearing why it was unfair that you got a traffic ticket.

The only defense they will entertain is a legal defense that will explain a logical reason for why you did not deserve the ticket.

6.  Thinking Traffic Court is Like Law & Order

Remember, traffic court is not like what you see on television. It is not the place for theatrics or fancy Latin words that many do not know the meaning of (and have no place in traffic court).

Unlike the long-winded dialogues you see in the movies, traffic court judges do not have time to listen to your case all day.

The best thing for you to do is show up, patiently wait your turn, be polite to everyone, and quickly present your case by articulating two or three extremely salient points.

7.  Being Cocky at Your Hearing

Being arrogant about your traffic court appearance will end up hurting you in the long run. Being cocky usually leads a person to overestimate their abilities, underestimate the prosecutor’s legal prowess, and causes the driver to go in unprepared.

Remember, both judges and prosecutors deal with people in your shoes on a daily basis, sometimes hundreds of them. You cannot simply roll in without doing your homework and expect to win the day.

Remain humble, prepare, and make good arguments.

8.  Talking Way Too Much

Tons of drivers feel the need to explain their side of the story. They think that once it is their turn, they deserve their day in court—even if it takes the entire day.

The truth of the matter is that those who have a habit of talking too much are simply digging their own graves.

If you say 15 things, it is highly unlikely for anyone to remember all of them by the time you are done.

Furthermore, making two solid arguments, and politely waiting for the judge to respond, will be received much better and end much more favorably.

Trust us on this one: less is more.

9.  Getting Agitated When You Wait Your Turn

We all have been there. It is 2:00 p.m. and we still have not met with the prosecutor or had our appearance in front of the judge.

Whatever you do, do not show anger or frustration.

Anger will cloud your ability to think reasonably and may even lead you to say things you will later regret.

More importantly, no prosecutor or judge wants to hear a driver pitching a fit over his ticket or the time he had to wait.

Stay cool and prepare what you are going to say while you wait.

10.  Not Requesting a Continuance When You are in Over Your Head

If there comes a time during the hearing when you feel like everything is going over your head, ask questions. It is completely fine to say to the judge, “I am sorry, Your Honor, but I do not understand what you just said.”  If this does not help, ask for a new court date, otherwise known as an “adjournment” or “continuance.” If granted, this will give you the opportunity to prepare more thoroughly or to hire a New York traffic ticket attorney who can better represent your interests.

The New York City Council and Transportation Alternatives are aiming to decrease the number of people killed and seriously injured in traffic accidents.

Together, they are pushing a new bill that calls for a task force to overhaul the New York Police Department’s traffic enforcement and crash investigation procedures.

Recently, Councilman Brad Lander and Councilman James Vacca presented “The Crash Investigation Reform Act” at a press conference.

The legislation will assess the NYPD’s traffic safety enforcement and accident investigation protocols, which many believe are not keeping the streets safe enough.

After the assessment, the Act is expected help implement the most effective ways to lower the number of fatalities and injuries in the streets and bring justice to those injured or killed.

Councilman Stephen Levin revealed that there are 19 police officers on the NYPD’s Accident Investigation Squad citywide who are called to accidents, but only if “a person dies or is likely to die.”

Additionally, Transportation Alternatives reported that 21 cyclists died in vehicle crashes in New York City in 2011, but only two drivers were arrested.

“Crashes that result in serious injuries demand serious investigations,” noted Council Member Brad Lander.

He also explained, “But right now, they just aren’t getting them from the NYPD. As we learned at the City Council’s February hearing, thousands of crashes with serious injuries to pedestrians and cyclists happen with no real investigations, and no charges. The Crash Investigation Reform Act would set up a comprehensive review of NYPD policies regarding traffic crash investigations, and get us on the road to safer streets.”

The City Council revealed that 60% of fatal pedestrian and bicyclist crashes with known causes are due to illegal driving behavior like speeding and talking on a cell phone.

However, due to the low numbers of speeding tickets issued, the City Council believes the NYPD is not doing its job to enforce the speed limit and is not holding dangerous drivers responsible for breaking the law.

Ultimately, legislators hope that the Crash Investigation Reform Act will make New York safer.