Category: News

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration are currently taking public comments on new rules limiting highway speeds for trucks, buses, and other large vehicles. The regulations, which were proposed on August 26, would require newly made U.S. vehicles that weigh more than 26,000 pounds to be outfitted with speed-limiting technology.

The proposal only applies to newly manufactured vehicles and will not require older vehicles to be retrofitted, although that could change. According to the NHTSA, retrofitting vehicles made after 1990 could cost anywhere from $100 to $2,000 per vehicle. Heavy vehicles made before 1990 cannot be upgraded to include electronic speed capping devices.

Regulators have not decided what the new speed limit will be, but are considering caps of 60, 65, or 68 mph. The government will take public comments for 60 days before determining the final details of the regulations. Both agencies hope that electronically limiting speeds will prevent some of the more than 1,100 fatal crashes involving heavy trucks that occur each year. The new regulations could also save up to $1 billion in fuel costs.

The idea of electronically limiting truck speeds was first championed in 2006 by the nonprofit organization Road Safe America. It has the support of the American Trucking Associations, the nation’s largest trucking industry group, as well as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The technology has been available on diesel trucks since the 1990s and is actively used in Europe, Australia, and Japan.

According to the NHTSA, limiting heavy vehicles to 60 mph could save as many as 498 lives each year. A 65 mph limit could save up to 214 lives, and limiting it to 68 mph could save as many as 96 lives. It is unclear if these figures are based on the assumption that all of the 3.8 million heavy vehicles on U.S. roadways will be subject to that limit or just some.

Limiting trucks speeds could reduce other kinds of accident risks. Last year, an investigation by The Associated Press found that 14 states have speed limits that are equal to or higher than the speeds most heavy vehicle tires were designed to handle. Truck tires are rarely designed to go faster than 75 mph and tire manufacturers say exceeding that limit can cause tires to fail and blow out. If vehicles were unable to exceed that speed, they would be far less likely to see their tires fail.

However, some are concerned that limiting a driver’s ability to control speed could lead to more accidents, particularly if faster cars are forced to slow down for speed-limited trucks. This is particularly dangerous on interstate highways with speed limits between 75 and 80 mph. The Institute for Transportation Engineers notes that vehicles driving 10 mph slower than the prevailing speed are six times more likely to be involved in an accident than vehicles going 10 mph over the limit.

Commercial drivers license (CDL) holders are held to a higher standard than most other drivers. Speeding 15 miles or above and other run-of-the-mill moving violations are considered serious offenses when driving a commercial vehicle. The cost of a speeding ticket can run in the hundreds of dollars and can significantly increase your insurance rates. Moreover, being convicted of two serious traffic violations within a three-year period can result in a 60-day suspension.

If you or a loved one has been ticketed for speeding while driving a commercial vehicle, it is recommended that you consult an attorney to help you avoid the costs associated with a ticket. Adam H. Rosenblum of the Rosenblum Law Firm is a skilled New York traffic ticket attorney who is 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.

Between the struggle to get the kids ready and your wife changing her outfit for the third time, it looks like you are doomed to be late for Thanksgiving at your sister’s house this year. The temptation to gun it when you hit the highway is probably strong, but that could be an expensive mistake.

A typical speeding ticket costs at least $150. There’s also court surcharges that run about $90 and, if you end up with six points or more on your license (a speeding ticket carries at least three points), a driver responsibility assessment of $100. All told, you could shell out almost $350 – and that’s for going no more than 10 mph over the legal speed limit.

Consider what else you could have used the money for this holiday:

• 7 bottles of decent-quality wine (avg cost $50). You could have skipped that cheap stuff your second cousin always brings and really splurged.
• 14 Thanksgiving turkeys (avg cost $25). You probably only need one bird at the table this year, but you could have sprung for a lot more.
• 30 gourmet apple pies (avg cost $12). They’d probably be better than the ones from Stop and Shop, too.
• 350 boxes of Stove Top stuffing mix (avg cost $1). It’s not as good as Grandma’s homemade recipe, but still, that’s a lot of stuffing.
• 1,300 pounds of potatoes (avg cost $2.72/10 pounds). Let’s hope there’s enough room in your trunk.  

That’s all based on just 10 miles over the posted limit. If you get busted going 30 mph over the legal limit, you’d be facing almost $800 in fines and fees, plus 8 points on your license (11 points or more will result in a suspended license), and possibly a reckless driving charge as well. Getting convicted of speeding can also cause your insurance rates to go up, guaranteeing you’ll be paying for extra turkeys for years to come.

Don’t let a speeding ticket ruin your Thanksgiving. If you or a loved one has been caught speeding, consult an attorney right away. 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.

A speeding ticket can cost over $200 in New York, along with at least three points on your license. “But,” you say, “there’s no guarantee I’ll get caught!”

That may be true. However, it is guaranteed that you will spend more money speeding, even if you never get a ticket, because excess speed almost always means excess fuel consumption.

Each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed. On average, gas mileage peaks around 45 to 55 mph. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that every five miles you drive over 55 mph is equal to paying an additional $0.18 per gallon for gas (assuming $2.50 per gallon).

It’s like the old math problems from grade school. Jack and Jill both need to drive 60 miles on a highway from Point A to Point B. Both cars get 30 mpg if the driver stays at the posted limit of 55 mph.

Jill drives at 55 mph, but Jack puts the pedal to the metal and does 75 mph. It will take Jack 48 minutes to reach his exit, while Jill will get there in 65 minutes.

At 55 mph, Jill used 2 gallons gas. If gas costs $2.50/gallon, the highway trip cost her $5.00. Meanwhile, Jack used 2.5 gallons, which cost him $6.25 to go the same distance.

An extra $1.25 probably doesn’t sound like much, but it adds up quickly.  Assuming again 30 mpg  and $2.50 per gallon, for a 20-mile commute to work each way (40 miles per day), here’s how much it would cost at various speeds:

Speed	Daily Travel Time	MPG	Cost/day	Cost/year (5 days/week for 50 weeks)
55	44	30.0	$4.67	$1,167.50
60	40	29.1	$4.81	$1,202.50
65	37	27.6	$5.07	$1,267.50
70	34	24.9	$5.62	$1,405.00
75	32	23.1	$6.06	$1,515.00
80	30	21.6	$6.48	$1,620.00

If you normally drive 75 mph, you could be saving $312.50 each year by slowing down to 60 mph – and you’d only be making your commute 8 minutes longer.

You could argue that the opposite is true as well – if the speed limit is 30 mph, driving 55 mph could save money on gas. While that’s technically true, slower local roads typically have stop signs, red lights, and a higher number of pedestrians. Speeding on these roads carries an increased risk of other traffic violations like failure to yield, red light violations, or failure to stop for a school bus, each of which carries its own consequences and fines. Getting pulled over even once can negate any fuel efficiency savings. A ticket for driving as little as 11 mph over the posted limit can cost up to $400. Depending on the offense and the number of citations, you may also face additional consequences like a driver’s responsibility assessment or even a suspended license. In case that wasn’t expensive enough, insurance premiums often skyrocket after a speeding citation.

If you or a loved one has been caught speeding, it is advisable that you consult an attorney to help you avoid the costs 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.

Two New York state politicians are looking to crack down on drivers who speed in school zones. Senator Jose Peralta and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick have proposed a bill that would suspend drivers’ licenses for 60 days after three or more violations during school hours in an 18-month period.

The announcement was held in front of P.S. 41 in Greenwich Village. “We have a speeding problem in one of every three schools in the city,” said Peralta. “If passed, this legislation will punish offenders by taking away their driver’s licenses for 60 days. We have a responsibility to hold reckless drivers accountable for their actions. Schools zones are now slow zones. Period.”

He added that more than 1,000 students under the age of 17 were injured in crashes last year, nine fatally. He also noted studies that show children under 14 are five times more likely to die if hit by a car going 35 mph versus a car going 25 mph.

Glick said every day one million children travel to and from school in New York City. When a parent or guardian sends their children to school, they deserve the peace of mind to know that speeding motorists will not put their children in danger.

Parents and educators at P.S. 41 have been pushing for the city to create a special slow zone around the school and along Sixth Avenue, reducing the speed limit from 30 miles per hour to 25 after a crash in front of the school injured a babysitter and toddler in 2013.

Under current law, drivers caught going up to 10 mph above the posted limit in a school zone face nearly $400 in fines and three points on their license. Those who exceed 10 mph above the posted limit face $700 in fines and 15 days in prison. Offenses can also lead to an increase in auto insurance rates.

If you or a loved one has been caught speeding, particularly in a school zone, you need legal representation to help you avoid the consequences associated with a ticket. The attorneys of the Rosenblum Law Firm have experience handling tickets for speeding and other driving-related offenses. Call 888-203-2619 or email the Rosenblum Law Firm today for a free consultation about your case.

Suffolk County drivers are putting school children at risk, says a new report commissioned by County Legislator Sarah Anker. The report studied driver behavior around the county’s 72 school districts and found that drivers often passed stopped buses and sped through school zones.

The worst behavior was found in Bay Shore, which saw 90 incidents of drivers passing school buses on a daily basis. In addition, there were 438 crashes on roads surrounding Bay Shore schools in the last five years. The Longwood school district has already taken action by mounting cameras on three buses. In one school year, the pilot program caught 1,160 violators. Anker is now pushing for a new state law to allow cameras on school buses to catch and fine violators. She also recommends more crossing guards.

New York State law requires drives to stop when a school bus turns on its flashing red lights. This is true whether approaching from the front or the rear, and applies on divided and multilane highways as well as on school grounds.

The penalty for illegally passing a school bus is a fine of up to $400 plus five points for a first offense. Those convicted could also face up to 30 days in jail. Second and third offenses carry even more severe consequences, including 180 days in jail and $1,000 or more in fines.

In addition, drivers who are convicted of going up to 10 mph above the posted limit in a school zone face nearly $400 in fines and three points on their license. Those who exceed 10 mph above the posted limit face $700 in fines and 15 days in jail.

If you or a loved one were ticketed for passing a stopped school bus or speeding in a school bus, you need a skilled attorney to help minimize the consequences. The lawyers of the Rosenblum Law Firm are experienced in handling tickets for speeding and other driving-related offenses. Call 888-203-2619 or email the Rosenblum Law Firm today for a free consultation about your case.

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A British man was shocked at what happened when his DeLorean reached more than 88mph. Instead of breaking the time-space continuum, as depicted in the “Back to the Future” trilogy, Nigel Mills was arrested for speeding near Margaretting, Chelmsford.

Mills, 55, bought the classic gull-winged car for $30,000 in 2004, but told The Telegraph that he scarcely drives it, mostly taking it out to car shows and the occasional joy ride. “Ironically, I was done for speeding in the car that doesn’t get on the road much,” he said. “I only drive it three or four times a year and did just 200 miles last year.”

Mills was able to successfully fight the summons and avoid any charges. He also insisted that he wasn’t trying to travel into the past to rewrite his family’s history. “I can honestly say I wasn’t trying to time travel. It was at 11 a.m. on Sunday and the road was completely clear,” he said.

It’s unlikely he would have been as successful at time traveling as he was at avoiding the speeding ticket, given that the car was not equipped with a flux capacitor or a Mr. Fusion.

If you or a loved one has been caught speeding, it is advisable that you consult an attorney since you can’t go back in time to correct your mistake. 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.

Most drivers would assume that police are more likely to pull over for speeding than tinted windows. If they’re driving in NYC, they’d be wrong. New data from Transportation Alternatives (TA), an advocacy group for cyclists in NYC, shows that the NYPD issued more tickets for tinted windows in the first five months of 2016 than for speeding or failure to yield combined.

TA’s report breaks down the number of tickets for window tints by precinct. The figures vary, with some, like the 73rd precinct in Brooklyn, issuing as many as eight times more tickets for tinted windows than for speeding – 1,257 compared to 162.

The report is intended as a criticism of the NYPD’s priorities when it comes to issuing traffic tickets. After all, TA notes, tinted windows are rarely a factor in traffic accidents. According to the report, in 2014, only 20 auto accidents occurred where window tints were a factor. Comparatively, 3,491 accidents involved unsafe speed and 6,966 involved a failure to yield the right of way to either a pedestrian or another vehicle. Even “animal actions” were responsible for 50 accidents that same year and 23 accidents were caused by eating or drinking (non-alcoholic beverages) behind the wheel.

While the report is a sharp rebuke, the trend is nothing new. In 2011, TA issued a report stating that the NYPD issued four times as many tickets for window tints as for speeding. A separate report by the NY Daily News shows that in 2012 officers issued almost twice as many citations for window tints as speeding.

Why do police issue so many tickets for window tints? Some argue it is because they are easy violations to spot. However, there’s real risk to such traffic stops, especially in light of recent events. If an officer can’t clearly see inside of a vehicle, he or she won’t know if the driver or a passenger had a gun.

Under New York State law, the windshield and front side windows must let 70% of the light through to be considered a legal tint. The same rule applies to the rear window unless the vehicle is equipped with rear-outside mirrors. Cops are technically required to measure a window using a tint meter, although for very dark windows an officer can sometimes rely on a visual inspection.

Tickets for tinted windows are notoriously difficult to fight and fines run about $80 per window. By comparison, a speeding ticket costs hundreds of dollars and carries at least 3 points on your licence, sometimes more.

If you are a loved one has been ticketed for speeding, tinted windows, or any other driving-related offense in New York, it is advisable that you retain an attorney to help fight the charges. Adam H. Rosenblum of the Rosenblum Law Firm is an experienced criminal defense and traffic ticket attorney with offices in New York and New Jersey. Email him or call 888-203-2619 for a free consultation about your case.

New York drivers can expect to see an uptick in road work throughout the state. Municipalities across New York will receive an additional $100 million in funding for road repairs as part of PAVE NY, a new program established by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state legislature in the 2016-2017 state budget.

PAVE NY will be administered by the state Department of Transportation as part of a five-year, $21.1 billion capital program. The program offers support for the repair and reconstruction of local roads and highways in 1,600 municipalities. The aim is to both improve the physical condition of local roads and also to create jobs and enhance local economic development.

“PAVE NY funds strategic investments in local roadways, helping ensure roadways across the state are in good repair, remain reliable for motorists and able to help foster regional economic growth for years to come,” Cuomo said in a statement released in June about the program.

The PAVE NY funds are in addition to what municipalities already receive from the state through the federally funded Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program, through which New York receives $438 million each year.

Drivers should use caution and watch their speeds when driving in work zones. In addition to being extremely dangerous for the workers, speeding in a work zone also automatically doubles the fine. Under VTL 1180 (f), a work zone is any location where workers, work vehicles, equipment, supplies or other barriers are located. The extra penalties apply even when the construction site is not active, such as at night, so long as the other indicators of a work zone are present.

If you or a loved one has been ticketed for speeding in a work zone, it is recommended that you hire an attorney to help you avoid the additional costs associated with the ticket. Adam H. Rosenblum of the Rosenblum Law Firm is a skilled New York traffic ticket attorney who is 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.

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It’s difficult enough for most drivers to get good auto insurance rates without constantly changing insurance companies every few years, but a new study from the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) shows that this challenge adversely affects Americans with lower incomes.

CFA sought quotes for men and women in 15 cities across the US from the nation’s five largest car insurers: Geico, Progressive, Allstate, Farmers, and State Farm. The study first took quotes for drivers whose occupation was listed as either a manufacturing executive or a bank executive across 15 different ZIP codes. The process was then repeated using the same address and replacing the job title with a factory position or bank teller. While annual income was not directly considered, factors that often indicate income level — such as education, homeownership, and marital status — were taken into account.

CFA found that drivers with likely higher socioeconomic standing paid an average of just over $1,140, while those with lower economic status received an average quote of $1,825. GEICO charged the largest average percentage increase at 92% and Progressive had the second largest disparity, charging lower-income drivers 80% more. State Farm charged the smallest increase to lower-income drivers at 13%, but CFA noted that State Farm also includes credit scores in the final price, a factor that also disproportionately impacts lower-income drivers.

The exact increase varied by region. Queens County, NY saw the largest disparity, with low-income drivers paying 97% more while Los Angeles, CA had the lowest average difference with only a 9% difference.

Out of 280 drivers used in the study, there were 21 instances in which a company would not provide a quote to a lower-income driver, though those same companies offered quotes to the higher-income driver at the same address. Allstate rejected 13 applicants, State Farm refused quotes for 5, and Farmers denied 3. None of the high-income drivers were denied a quote.

As part of the study, CFA commissioned ORC International to survey 1,000 Americans about the use of various rating factors to determine auto insurance premiums. Eighty-three percent found it very fair or somewhat fair for auto insurers to consider traffic accidents and 84% said it was very or somewhat fair to use moving violations such as speeding tickets. However, the near opposite was true for non-driving related factors that reflect drivers’ economic status, including credit scores (only 38% said it was fair), homeownership (36%), occupation (35%), and level of education (30%).

In all cases, test subjects indicated a clean driving record. That’s likely because even minor traffic citations, including speeding and red-light violations, can cause insurance premiums to skyrocket.

If you or a loved one has been ticketed for speeding or any other traffic violation, call us to fight the ticket and avoid costly insurance premium increases. Adam H. Rosenblum of the Rosenblum Law Firm is a skilled New York traffic ticket attorney who is 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.

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