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Traffic Mistakes that can Lead to Tickets for Tourists in NYC

Traveling to different parts of the world, even within the United States can be a culture shock. Some places speak different languages, while others simply do everything differently. New York City is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Over 60 million people visit New York every year, and the number is rising. With that sheer amount of people walking, biking, driving, and riding around, traffic is horrendous. Everything involving roads is more complicated in NYC. From parking to turning, driving is something most tourists want to avoid altogether.

If you do insist on driving or renting a car on your visit to NYC, keep reading. There are thousands of mistakes that can be made and thousands more that will result in a hefty ticket. With questions about purchasing temporary car insurance, parking on the street, or just using the subway, we compiled some of the worst traffic mistakes you can make while visiting NYC to help you out. 

Renting a Car

First, let’s start by stating that an NYC tourist should probably never rent a car at all. Driving in NYC is not a joke. The stereotypes and old wives’ tales are true. With millions of drivers on the road, you cannot afford to make any mistakes. Rental cars are never cheap, but even if you can get a good deal on one, driving around will probably still cost you money. Gas is more expensive than anywhere in the country, and tickets are handed out more in NYC than any other city. 

Not Using Public Transit

Along with renting a car, not using public transit would be a huge mistake. The subway system was built to take congestion away from the roads of the city. While it has done its job to a certain extent, car traffic is still at epic proportions throughout New York State. In 2019, three NYC roads topped the list of “Most Congested Roads in America.” If you’re a tourist heading into the city for the first time, taking buses, tours, or the subway from place to place can be your best friend. 

Parking By Fire Hydrants or Crosswalks

You may be wondering why this is so far ahead of many other mistakes tourists need to avoid. The reason is that parking in NYC is worse than driving. If you think getting from place to place is hard within the city limits, try parking next to the place you’re going. Plan ahead of time for at least a ten-minute walk to wherever you’re headed. 

With that being said, most people know you shouldn’t park right by fire lanes and fire hydrants. Emergency Firemen need all the help they can, and parking in these marked areas is not only offensive and outright wrong but will also land you a ticket upwards of $350. 

Crosswalks are also essential to avoid. With millions of pedestrians running around the city, you may find a spot that is just over the top of a crosswalk. Avoid it at all costs. It’s not a matter of if you get a ticket; it’s a matter of when you get a ticket. 

NYC Police boosted its traffic enforcement when the school year started back up also. As if they weren’t handing out enough tickets, enforcement is only getting heavier. 

Hailing a Cab in Rush Hour

Only tourists are guilty of doing this (and I’m one of them). There’s a rule of the city about never entering cabs when it’s rush hour. Most cabs will have passengers in them already, but hailing a cab causes accidents and backups even worse than before. 

You can now be ticketed by a police officer as well. If an officer sees you hailing a cab during rush hour, you could receive a $100 fine. There’s a ton of obscure traffic tickets written in NYC, and the more informed you are, the better off you’ll be as a pedestrian.

Turning Right on Red

One of the only places in the entire country that you cannot turn right on red is in New York City. In almost every other city and town, no matter the size, turning right on red after a stop is perfectly legal. This isn’t the case in New York City. 

The rule came into effect in 2007, making it illegal to take a right on red within the five boroughs of NYC. According to NYC.gov, the law was made to improve travel time and increase safety. For tourists especially, this may be a considerable change. If you’re driving through the city, remember not to take a right on red, or you’ll be going home with a ticket. 

Blocking Intersections

This rule should be known by every driver who has ever taken a driver’s test or attended a class, but of course, it happens every day. In New York City, it is essential that traffic flow to the best of its ability. It is already the worst place to drive in the country, making it worse is a no-no. 

Blocking intersections is illegal across every state in the U.S., but in NYC, it will not be overlooked like it is in other states. To keep traffic flowing correctly, wait before the line even if the light ahead of you is green. 

Texting & Driving 

The laws against texting while driving should go without being said, but once again, the American people insist on not listening. While people have been injured or killed, we still continue to text and drive. 

There has been a crackdown on enforcing these laws with the coming of 2020, but in New York City, they don’t take it lightly, and never will. Tickets for texting while driving in NYC can cost you up to $400 within the city limits. While you should never use your phone while you drive, be sure to put it down while you’re in NYC. 

Conclusion

New York City is an enormous place filled with magical sights and advanced technology. From the Brooklyn Bridge to the Empire State Building, traffic is another sight to see. If you’re thinking of visiting, skip renting a car or driving at all. Fly in or leave your car outside the city. Trust me–there’s no need for more cars in NYC.

Author Bio:

author pic

Ethan Lichtenberg is a writer for Autoinsuranceez.com and other top car insurance comparison sites. He enjoys reading Fredrik Backman and sneaking off to the beach every chance he gets.



Speeding Tickets in Chemung County, NY

Map of New York Counties Highlighting Chemung

Chemung County is one of several NY counties in the southwestern part of the state along the Pennsylvania border, in a part of New York called the Southern Tier. It is also part of the Finger Lakes Region. The name Chemung is derived from a Delaware Indian village whose name meant “big horn.” Famous author Mark Twain lived and worked in Chemung for many years. 

Speeding tickets in Chemung County are very costly. Each carries huge fines and can result in between 3 and 11 points on one’s license, which can lead to even further penalties. Thankfully, those who hire an attorney have a good chance of fighting the underlying charges and reducing or eliminating such consequences. 

New York Speeding Ticket Costs

Fines for speeding in Chemung County are typically $150 to $600. Those who give up and pay the ticket will also have to pay a state surcharge of $88 or $93. A speeding ticket that puts one’s point total at 6 or more means being charged an additional fine called the Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA) fee. The DRA is separate from the fine and costs $300 plus $75 for each additional point over six. Even worse, a speeding ticket conviction can raise insurance rates by hundreds of dollars.

Speeding Tickets Data from Chemung County NY

More than 4,800 speeding tickets were issued by police in Chemung County last year. This is 11% more tickets than in 2017. Approximately 14% of drivers ticketed for speeding in Chemung last year also received additional tickets for other violations. Most common among them (24%) were licensing violations, such as driving on an expired license. Driving while suspended was the next most common (14%) and followed by equipment violations (11%). Of those hit with speeding tickets in Chemung, 61% were New Yorkers, while the rest were from out of state. Drivers should watch diligently for State Troopers in Chemung County, who wrote 69% of speeding tickets in 2018. Another 24% came from county police. 


Every driver should fight a Chemung County speeding ticket. Unfortunately, only about 3.8% of drivers were able to get their tickets dismissed in the county last year. Drivers who hire a skilled traffic ticket attorney have a far better chance of getting the ticket reduced to a lesser offense or beating the ticket altogether.

Chemung County Graph Speeding Ticket

Number of Speeding Tickets Given in Chemung County, NY

Year# of Speeding Tickets
2009 4,778
2010 4,834
2011 3,441
2012 3,738
2013 3,346
2014 4,412
2015 5,848
2016 5,287
2017 4,324
2018 4,832

Chemung County Geography and How It Relates to Traffic Tickets

The Southern Tier Expressway (I-86) runs through Chemung County east-west near the Pennsylvania border, ending in Elmira at the edge of the county. The county is known for hosting national soaring/sailplane competitions, which it has done since 1930. There are several higher education institutions in Chemung, including Arnot Ogden School of Nursing, Corning Community College, Elmira College, and Elmira Business Institute, all of which means there are plenty of students on the road. The mix of tourists, students, locals, and through-traffic means police must be vigilant for those who might make the roads unsafe. 

Hiring a Chemung County Speeding Ticket Lawyer

It is urgent that anyone ticketed for speeding fight the charge to avoid heavy fines, points, and insurance increases. An experienced traffic ticket attorney offers the best chance of keeping the fines and points to a minimum or beating the ticket altogether. Most people who hire an attorney do not even have to come to court themselves. 

If you received a speeding ticket in Chemung County, contact Rosenblum Law. Our traffic ticket attorneys represent clients in Ashland, Baldwin, Big Flats, Catlin, Chemung, Elmira, Erin, Horseheads, Southport, Van Etten, and Veteran. Call 888-434-0406 or email Rosenblum Law today for a free consultation about your case.

Speeding Ticket in Other Counties


Report: ‘Fast and Furious’ Movies Cause Increase in Speeding Tickets

New research shows that the popular The Fast and the Furious movie franchise may be encouraging motorists to speed. A New York Times report analyzed traffic violation data from Montgomery County in Maryland from 2012 to 2017. The researchers found a large increase in the average speed of drivers who received speeding tickets on the weekends after new Fast and the Furious movies were released. Continue reading “Report: ‘Fast and Furious’ Movies Cause Increase in Speeding Tickets”

Can Police Issue Speeding Tickets Outside Their Jurisdiction?

image to can police issue speeding ticket outside their jurisdiction
Can Police Issue Speeding Tickets Outside Their Jurisdiction?

Orange County PD flash their lights at you just a few traffic signals away from the border of Putnam County. Do you pull over or gun it so that cops can’t chase you over county lines? It sounds tempting to try to get away, but would it work? Can police chase you and issue a speeding ticket outside their jurisdiction?

Continue reading “Can Police Issue Speeding Tickets Outside Their Jurisdiction?”

How to Avoid Speeding This Holiday

Travel is an inevitable part of the holidays, even if it’s only local. Between loading the car with gifts, getting the kids ready, and your wife’s complex and cryptic make-up routine, it’s almost impossible to not find yourself leaving the house later than you intended. When that happens, it becomes tempting to make up for lost time using your car’s accelerator.

Continue reading “How to Avoid Speeding This Holiday”

Don’t Let Sun Glare Ruin Your Holiday Travel

For those who plan to travel during Thanksgiving, experts say the best time to leave is as early as possible, with 6 a.m. named as the ideal time to hit the road in NY. One of the biggest challenges to leaving so early, aside from lack of sleep, is dealing with sunrise-induced sun glare. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), sun glare is a critical factor in about 16% of motor vehicle crashes.

Continue reading “Don’t Let Sun Glare Ruin Your Holiday Travel”

How to Get a Warning Instead of a Ticket

Every day police throughout New York and New Jersey pull drivers over for speeding but don’t always issue a ticket. Officers have the ability to issue a warning to drivers rather than cite them for a violation. Under what circumstances can the officer do this? And how can you maximize your chances of getting off with just a warning?

Let’s start with the opposite: when an officer is allowed to issue a ticket? A cop must have an objective, clearly articulable violation of an ordinance or statute which prompts the traffic stop.  This is referred to as “probable cause.” There are some exceptions to this, such as an investigative stop based on reasonable suspicion of a crime. If neither of the above are the case, the stop would be considered unlawful.

That said, if you have been pulled over it is usually reasonable to assume that the officer clearly witnessed a violation. When a driver isn’t cited, it is usually because the officer exercised discretion and decided not to. Law enforcement officials have surprisingly wide latitude in discretion — they can warn or ticket for a lot of reasons, including patently superficial ones. They can also choose to issue tickets for relatively trivial offenses, or issue a warning for serious ones.

The bottom line is that there isn’t necessarily a rhyme or reason behind the decision to ticket or not ticket. Does that mean that getting off with a warning is a matter of luck? Perhaps, but there are some things you can do to increase your chances, such as:

  • Be polite. Remember that the officer is only doing his/her own job.
  • Be calm. Don’t get frustrated or angry. At the same time, don’t gush or turn on the water works (this may work sometimes for women, but only in moderation).
  • Be quiet. In other words, don’t offer any more information than you have to. Don’t admit to the infraction. If you do and the officer does issue a ticket, that admission can be used against you should you challenge to ticket in court.
  • Be cooperative. Provide the legally required information and documents in a timely manner. Also, keep the music down and your hands on the wheel. In the daytime, take off your sunglasses. At night, turn on the interior car lights.

Realize that even if you do all of the above you may still get a ticket. If you or a loved one has been ticketed for speeding or any other traffic violation in New York or New Jersey, you need expert legal counsel right away. The lawyers of the Rosenblum Law Firm are skilled traffic ticket attorneys who are experienced in handling tickets for speeding as well as other driving-related offenses. Call 888-203-2619 or email the Rosenblum Law Firm today for a free consultation about your case.

The Fastest Speeding Ticket Ever

Police cruiser setting speed trap
By Ildar Sagdejev (Specious) (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
New Yorkers speed far more often than they probably should, with 60 percent admitting that they exceed the legal limit regularly. Some speeding is worse than others, though. This leads to the obvious question: What’s the fastest speeding ticket ever written? Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately), while New Yorkers rank high in a lot of traffic-related categories, Texas is said to be the home of the fastest speeder ever caught. The driver’s name is not known, but as the legend goes, he was doing 242 mph in a Koenigsegg CC. The act took place in 2003 as part of the Gumball 3000, an annual international motor rally on public roads. Rumor has it that the ticket would have cost him $650,000 had he not managed to talk his way out of it.

There is one caveat to all this – no public record of the incident exists. The story became widespread when it was mentioned on an episode of Top Gear (Season 8, Episode 1). No witnesses or evidence have ever turned up.

Given the possible fiction-status of this entry, we submit to you a follow up: a 205-mph ticket for a motorcycle rider in Minnesota. Here at least there is an article documenting the incident. It happened in 2004 on U.S. Highway 61 in Wabasha. The rider, then-20-year-old Samuel Armstrong Tilley, was arrested and charged with reckless driving and driving without a motorcycle license.

If you are caught going over 200 mph in New York you are likely to get hit with a speeding ticket of about $600, plus a mandatory NYS surcharge of up to $93. A conviction would result in 11 points on your license, which means an automatic suspension even if you have no other convictions on your driving record. Not to mention, at such a speed, it’s also possible to be charged with reckless driving, as happened to Tilley. That’s not even getting into the impact on your auto insurance.

If you or a loved one has been caught speeding – even if it doesn’t break any records – it is advisable that you consult an attorney right away. The lawyers of the Rosenblum Law Firm are skilled New York traffic ticket attorneys with experience handling tickets for speeding as well as other driving-related offenses. Call 888-203-2619 or email the Rosenblum Law Firm today for a free consultation about your case.

 

Difference Between Yellow vs White Speed Limit Signs

What’s the Difference Between Yellow and White Speed Limit Signs?

Speed limit signs seem like the simplest thing in the world. You may have noticed, however, that some speed limit signs are yellow, while most are white. Seems like a minor thing, but there’s a difference between them that you should be aware of.

Yellow speed limit signs are also known as advisory speed limit signs. You’ll see these most often when roads curve. You might also see them on a stretch of road that is hilly or which suddenly narrows. Either way, it is a warning to drivers to reduce speed.

The limit on an advisory speed limit sign is always at least 5 mph lower than the rest of the roadway. The yellow color is intended to draw your attention so that you adjust your speed accordingly. In most cases, the advisory limit is temporary; once you have passed the stretch of road with the advisory-inducing conditions, a white sign will typically be posted indicating you can return to the old speed. However, it is possible for multiple advisory limits to appear back to back.

Can I Get a Ticket for Exceeding an Advisory Limit?

Advisory speed limits are not a legal speed limit; only the standard white speed limit signs carry the force of the law. Therefore, you cannot get a speeding ticket for disobeying an advisory speed limit sign. Yellow signs are simply a warning to drivers of a change in road conditions that may make their current speed dangerous. The number is usually based on the physics of the road, taking into account things like centrifugal force (around a bend) and angular momentum (at the top of a hill).

If an officer issues a speeding ticket, it is most likely for exceeding the official (white) speed limit. This will cost at least $150 plus a mandatory surcharge of $88-$93 and will lead to no less three points but as many as 11 points on your New York license, depending on how far above the standard limit you were going. Alternatively, there’s a chance you could get hit with a ticket for failure to reduce speed. This rarely-issued ticket penalizes drivers who do not slow down for special hazards, such as when approaching train tracks or the crest of a hill. It carries a maximum fine of $150 plus a mandatory surcharge of $88-$93 and three points on your license.

While exceeding an advisory speed is not illegal per se, it can be considered negligent. That means if you are involved in an accident while exceeding the advisory limit, you can be liable.

In addition to the fines and points, a conviction for any kind of speeding ticket can cause your auto insurance rates to skyrocket. If you or a loved one has been caught speeding, it is advisable that you consult an attorney to help you avoid the costs and points associated with a ticket. The lawyers of the Rosenblum Law Firm are skilled New York traffic ticket attorneys who are experienced in handling tickets for speeding as well as other driving-related offenses. Call 888-203-2619 or email the Rosenblum Law Firm today for a free consultation about your case.