The Obscure Speeding Ticket You Didn’t Know About: 1180(e) Failure to Reduce Speed

Most drivers realize there are a handful of different kinds of speeding tickets. There’s your basic speeding ticket (1180-d), speeding in a school zone (1180-c), and speeding in a work zone (1180-f). There’s another type of speeding ticket, however, that very few drivers know about — at least until they get a citation for it.

VTL 1180-e, also known as failure to reduce speed (special hazards), is a largely obscure but still occasionally issued ticket. In 2014 (the most recent data available) about 900 tickets for 1180-e were issued, representing well under 1 percent of all speeding tickets. Still, the wide variety of instances where this ticket applies makes it worth knowing about.

An 1180-e ticket can be issued during situations when drivers are expected to slow down momentarily, such as when approaching train tracks, on tight and winding roads, or near the crest of a hill. Another instance would be when approaching an intersection with pedestrians in it (regardless of right of way). The statute also contains restrictions that are redundant to other traffic laws. This includes approaching and passing emergency vehicles (similar to the Move Over law), driving within construction zones (similar to 1180-f), or traveling in hazardous weather conditions (similar to 1180-a/imprudent speed).

The statute actually predates many of the traffic laws (such as speeding in a work zone or the Move Over law) that it shares conditions with, which partially explains why the ticket is so infrequently issued. Officers tend to issue the newer, more specific violations, and use 1180-e when no other statute applies.

Unlike many other types of speeding tickets, the fines and points for a VTL 1180-e offense do not increase relative to your speed. A ticket costs $150 plus a mandatory surcharge of up to $93, and also imposes three points on your license. If you or a loved one has been issued a ticket for VTL 1180-e or any other speeding-related violation, it is urgent that you consult an attorney to help you avoid the consequences of a conviction. 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.