New York State data on the amount of money collected in traffic fines reveals that certain local communities have received significantly more fines than others.
For instance, the area receiving the least amount of revenue was Grand Island, which got only $166,000 in fines. Similarly, in the town of Lancaster, last year’s fine revenue totaled $231,000.
An Amherst, NY police car. Police in Amherst generated over $1.4 million in revenue in 2013 from traffic tickets. (Photo Source: Wikipedia)
Clarence received $500,000 worth of revenue for traffic infractions within its borders and the town of Hamburg took in $550,000.
However, Cheektowaga has a stretch of road that notoriously gives out the most speeding tickets in all of New York State.
Under Vision Zero, New York has installed numerous speed cameras, reduced its speed limits in order to catch more drivers, and dramatically increased the issuance of New York speeding tickets.
President Obama, whose administration has endorsed Mayor DeBlasio’s “Vision Zero” by allocating $25 million in funding. (Photo Source: Wikipedia)
Similarly, the United States Department of Transportation announced that $25 million in federal gas tax funds would be given to the NYC Department of Transportation in support of the mayor’s initiative.
A police car hiding behind some trees to catch speeding vehicles. Here are the top 10 locations for such speed traps in New York. (Photo Source: Wikipedia)
We see it all the time, New York police officers lurking on the side of the road waiting for your vehicle to pass at the exact moment the 65 MPH zone drops to 45 MPH. Of course, these speed traps – and their enforcement – are much more common in some areas than others.
A new analysis of state ticketing data shows that these are the top 10 speed trap locations in New York State:
According to County Executive Edward Mangano, there were problems with the cameras installed at six school locations due to malfunctions in the equipment and timing mechanisms. Consequently, Mangano said he is declaring amnesty on all of those fines.
Mangano announced the amnesty via Twitter, tweeting, “I am declaring amnesty for all speed camera tickets issued this summer.”
However, now that school is officially in session, enforcement has resumed.
Mangano revealed to 1010 WINS, “Clearly, there were some errors in the speed zone violations, so we’re meeting with the vendor and our traffic safety department to make certain that those errors are corrected… so as a matter of fairness, we’re eliminating all those tickets.”
He continued, “Many of the residents believed there was not enough notice, so this will serve as a notice of the new state law that there will be speed cameras in school zones come this September with the opening of school.”
Similarly, anyone who already paid the fine for their school zone camera ticket will be issued a full refund from the Traffic and Parking Violations Bureau.
In total, Nassau issued 30,108 citations at the five schools.
This is another prime example of how camera tickets are not very reliable and further proof that there is no substitute for an officer actually issuing a traffic ticket.
Remember, whenever you are approaching a school—whether you think it is in session or not—you ought to slow down and look for police officers patrolling nearby.
If you recently received a New York speeding ticket, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-434-0406.
In recent months, New York State police officers have ramped up their pre-emptive approach to reducing speed-related crashes and improving safe travel for drivers and passengers.
Ontario County, NY, where speeding enforcement is expected to double between 2013 and 2014. (Photo Source: Wikipedia)
In the city of Canandaigua, 599 speeding tickets were given out on North Main Street in 2013 by city police officers. According to Sgt. Scott Kadien, that number is set to double this year. 722 tickets had already been issued as of July 31, 2014.
During Speed Week—and throughout the year—officers like State Trooper Greg Beaver are cruising the highways and logging an average of 100 miles per day. That time is above and beyond the time taken to respond to Ontario County 911 Center dispatches and working ongoing investigations.
Troop E covers all the counties in the Finger Lakes region, and is divided into three zones:
Rochester
Canandaigua
Geneseo
The Canandaigua station covers all of Ontario County, and is where Trooper Beaver is based.
He explained, “We try to reduce speeding which will in turn reduce serious accidents … and we enforce all traffic laws and any unsafe acts, such as cell phone use, seatbelt use[,] and the move over law.”
The trooper continued, “Ever since high school I’ve always respected police and always thought it would be a fun job and career … It’s a rewarding job because you’re helping people, helping ensure that the roads and highways of our state are safe.”
In the midst of this lies the harsh reality that cities like Canandaigua are raking in your hard earned money for every traffic ticket conviction and guilty plea they receive.
As we all know too well, not every ticket that you receive is deserved and not every officer issuing them is doing so in the nicest fashion.
With a few weekends left before summer is officially over, make sure you are on the lookout for police officers during any road trips through New York State. After all, state troopers will certainly be looking for you.
If you recently received a NY speeding ticket, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-434-0406.
CBS 2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported that the brand new speed-camera program is generating a tremendous amount of negative feedback from drivers saying they had no idea that school zone speed limits were still in force during the summer.
One driver noted that he always slows down in school zones when school is in session. However, unbeknownst to him, he was mailed four tickets from a speed camera for school-zone speeding!
He thought school was not in session. After all, it’s August. Plainedge Middle School appeared deserted and he was driving 36 mph in a 40 mph zone.
However—since summer school was in session—the zone was really 25 mph.
According to the driver, “[S]ummer school is not posted or advertised anywhere as to be in session … It’s not on any of the school calendars.”
Another motorist got slapped with 11 tickets costing $80 each in the same week.
Ever since Nassau County began its most recent school zone ticket blitz, similar stories have been cropping up.
A school zone speed limit sign. These speed limits are only enforced during days in which school is in session, but un-publicized summer school is causing Nassau drivers to receive school zone speeding tickets in August. (Photo Source: Wikipedia)Fifty-six school zones could have speed cameras up and running in Nassau by the first week of September and speed cameras are coming to Suffolk County early next year.
New York State allows speed cameras to ticket drivers going more than 10 mph over the school speed limit on school days during school hours in addition to an hour before and after school as well as during school activities.
Nevertheless, many drivers near Plainedge Middle School are claiming that this type of summertime ticketing stretches the definition of “school day” simply to make money.
According to the Plainedge’s schools superintendent, 100 students were attending summer school. However, he promises that summer school days will be added to the district calendars.
If you recently received a New York speeding ticket, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-434-0406.
Update: As of August 22, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano has declared amnesty on all school zone speeding tickets issued during the summer. Click here for details.
Recently, an Idaho state trooper issued a speeding ticket to a grandmother on the way to Yellowstone National Park with her very young grandchildren (a four-year old and seven-year-old).
Apparently, the grandmother was traveling 91 MPH in a 75 MPH zone when Mike Nielson, a State Trooper, pulled her over. He noticed that the young children seemed nervous and that the grandmother was shocked as well.
Officer Nielson assured the children that their grandmother was not in serious trouble and gave them “junior troopers” stickers.
The grandmother revealed that the police officer who issued her the speeding ticket was so courteous and sensitive that she decided to write a thank-you note to the state police.
She explained, “We were on vacation and he could have really dampened our mood but he was just great.”
When her grandchildren asked if she was mad at the trooper for getting the ticket, she used that as an opportunity to explain to them the importance of taking responsibility for their actions.
Unfortunately, in New York, the police officers are not always this kind or professional and routine traffic stops are not always so pleasant.
Many times, we receive phone calls from people who were yelled at by New York police officers, had their PBA cards taken away, and even one or two who had their driver’s license thrown back at them.
This is not to say that this is the norm or that most New York police officers act like this. However, it happens more than it should. If it happens to you, remember to remain calm and composed.
Although difficult, never argue with a police officer who pulls you over for speeding in New York. Doing this will likely infuriate him and could even lead to an additional traffic citation––whether it is warranted or not.
Nevertheless, do not apologize to the officer either. Any apology could be considered an admission of wrongdoing which the officer and prosecutor can use that against you in court.
Your best course of action is to be as cordial as possible and let the officer do the talking. If you do end up with a New York speeding ticket, be sure to plead Not Guilty and call an experienced attorney to help you fight the case.
If you received a speeding ticket in NY, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-434-0406.
Brand new legislation went into effect this past Wednesday aimed at increasing student safety near schools.
Assemblyman Dave McDonough announced that the law was signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to establish speed monitoring systems in school zones on Long Island.
According to Mr. McDonough, the new law will allow Nassau and Suffolk counties to start four-year speed camera pilot programs within 120 approved school zones.
A Nassau County police vehicle. If you speed in Nassau school zones, you can expect to find one of these with pulling you over. (Photo Source: Wikipedia)
The Assemblyman explained, “I have been a long-time advocate of public safety and this legislation marks a substantial victory in the fight to prevent speeding and other dangerous traffic violations in the vicinity of our local schools.”
In addition to the speed cameras, we expect this emphasis on school zone safety to increase police enforcement in school zones. If the pilot program is successful, it is likely that similar programs will pop up throughout New York State.
If you happen to pass a school on your way to work or during your daily commute, be sure to slow down and obey the traffic rules. Remember, speed limits are drastically reduced near schools, often with little warning. If you are approaching a school zone, pay attention to traffic signs or you may soon find a camera ticket in your mailbox.
Getting caught for speeding in a school zone translates into significant fines, points, insurance hikes, and penalties.
If you recently received a school zone speeding ticket in NY, contact Rosenblum Law today at 888-434-0406.
A question that most drivers want an answer to is: Are traffic cameras always accurate?
One Manhattan judge certainly does not think so!
State Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Wright recently received a NY traffic ticket for driving in a bus lane. However, he is convinced that the camera was not accurate.
Although the fine is only $115, Justice Wright is fighting this one on principle.
Traffic cameras are supposed to provide photographic, incontrovertible evidence of traffic infractions—but that may not be the case. (Photo Source: Wikipedia)
According to Justice Wright, he was driving a 2005 Mazda MZ6 that was registered to his 94-year-old mother when he was caught by a traffic camera on 23rd Street.
He claims to have photos from the ground to prove he was just to the left of the designated lane. These photos show two bus lanes on First Avenue with manhole covers visible in those spaces.
Wright contends that his car was to the left of those manholes, so he could not have been in a bus lane.
Interestingly, the city’s camera images that are attached as exhibits to the lawsuit are too blurry to make out exactly where the Mazda was in relation to the lanes—casting further doubt on the reliability of some NY traffic cameras.
However, in spite of this, Mayor de Blasio wants the New York Legislature to allow for the installation of even more traffic cameras.
It is lawsuits like this that really call into question the veracity of red light cameras and traffic cameras generally.
It seems that the picture and video quality on traffic cameras is usually good enough to detect that a specific car was in violation of a vehicle and traffic law. However, determining the driver of that vehicle is much harder.
Similarly, in order for red light cameras to be accurate, the speed at which they take photos and videos needs to be within milliseconds.
Ultimately, although courts throughout the country have universally accepted the accuracy of traffic cameras, there still seems to be enough wiggle-room to take Justice Wright’s lead and stand up against them.
The federal transportation safety investigators revealed that a Wal-Mart truck driver was speeding immediately prior to careening into a limousine, killing a man and seriously injuring Tracy Morgan, the famous comedian.
This incident highlights the difficult balance between allowing truckers to work long hours and how doing so impacts the safety and health of the trucker as well as other motorists.
The driver had been on the job for approximately 13 1/2 hours at the time of the crash. The law on the books only allows a truck driver to work a maximum of 14 hours in a day and only 11 hours behind the wheel.
Had the driver reached his intended destination, he would have been slightly over the 14-hour limit (presuming he would have been going the speed limit).
Currently, the Senate is considering passing a resolution that would expand the maximum work period for truck drivers to 80 hours per week.
However, as a result of this tragic incident, the Teamsters Union pushed Congress not to ease the laws limiting truck drivers from working 60-70 hours per week.
The President of the Teamsters, James P. Hoffa, noted, “The NTSB’s preliminary findings in this case clearly show that truck drivers are pushing beyond the limits of the current hours of service rules.”
Apparently, the driver had not slept in 24 hours before the crash.
No one can tell whether the Senate resolution will pass, let alone become law. However, one thing is for sure: as this nationwide debate rages on, it is crucial for you to remember the importance of driving safely and the frightening ramifications of failing to do so.
Remember, a truck driver is a CDL (commercial driver’s license) holder and the penalties are dire for speeding when you have a CDL. Do not let fatigue or very long hours lead to a speeding ticket or a suspended license.
Mangano revealed to 
Apparently, the grandmother was traveling 91 MPH in a 75 MPH zone when Mike Nielson, a State Trooper, pulled her over. He noticed that the young children seemed nervous and that the grandmother was shocked as well.
