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New Google Maps Features Can Help Avoid a Speeding Ticket

Google Maps as begun rolling out two new mobile app that features can help drivers avoid speeding tickets. Both iOS and Android apps will now show speed limits and warn drivers of nearby speed cameras, according to multiple reports. The features were first spotted by tipsters writing in to Android Police. Google later confirmed the rollout in a statement to Mashable.

Drivers on unfamiliar roads can easily accidentally exceed the speed limit if they fail to notice street signage. Google’s new speed limit feature can help reduce the chances of unintentionally exceeding the legal limit.

Seeing the speed limit of the road one is traveling has been a standard feature on GPS devices for years. However, until recently, the only mobile app to show them was Waze (also owned by Google). Being able to see the speed limit while following GPS directions is especially helpful for those on highways and taking long road trips. The speed limit will show at the bottom left corner of the map when the navigation feature is turned on.

Also new to Google Maps is a feature that will produce an audio alert when a user approaches a speed camera. It’s unclear how much advance notice drivers will get of upcoming speed cameras, but the warning will nonetheless provide an opportunity to reduce one’s speed and potentially avoid a ticket.

The same feature may also soon alert drivers of possible speed traps—i.e. when police hang back just out of sight waiting to catch unsuspecting speeders. Waze already has a similar feature that lets users indicate areas of police activity, including DWI checkpoints. NYPD recently sent a letter to Google demanding it remove the feature, claiming it is illegal and endangers police lives.

If you or a loved one has been ticketed for speeding in New York or New Jersey, contact an attorney to reduce or avoid the consequences. The lawyers of the Rosenblum Law Firm are skilled traffic ticket attorneys with experience handling tickets for speeding as well as other driving-related offenses. Call 888-883-5529 or email the Rosenblum Law Firm today for a free consultation about your case.

Will An Error On My Speeding Ticket Lead To A Dismissal?

One of the questions we get from clients quite often is whether an error on the ticket will lead to a dismissal. Plain and simple, getting a speeding ticket can cause a lot of unneeded anxiety, pain and headache. Trying to get out of paying the fines, surcharges and increased insurance premiums is everyone’s first objective. Many times our potential clients believe that just because the officer misspelled the address or wrote the license plate wrong on the ticket means that the case will be dismissed. Continue reading “Will An Error On My Speeding Ticket Lead To A Dismissal?”

NYC School Zone Speed Cameras to Come Down

speeding ticket camerasNew York City’s pilot program for speed and red light cameras in school zones is coming to an end. The cameras were put in place four years ago as part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Vision Zero initiative. However, the NYS Assembly and Senate failed to agree on a bill extending the program before the legislative summer recess at the end of June. Without the extension, authorization to use the cameras will expire on July 25, 2018.

Continue reading “NYC School Zone Speed Cameras to Come Down”

Speeding & Traffic Tickets in Harrison NY

If you have received a speeding ticket or another traffic infraction in Harrison, New York you are not alone.  With so many major roadways passing through Harrison like Interstates 95, 287, 684 and the Hutchinson Parkway, police are on the lookout to ticket drivers breaking the law.  In Harrison, police are notorious for setting up speed traps in strategic locations to ticket drivers.

A motor officer writes a traffic ticket for a ...
A motor officer writes a traffic ticket for a motorist caught speeding Photo

Each year the Harrison Town Court disposes of thousands of traffic tickets with the vast majority of traffic infractions listed as speeding tickets.

Harrison is a sixteen square mile suburb located in Westchester County, New York. When an officer hands you a traffic ticket, not only does the ticket indicate what you are being charged with (speeding, improper turn, failure to yield, etc.) but it also is a summons requiring you or your attorney to appear in court.  The Harrison Town Court handles all traffic matters including moving violations, parking tickets, DWI’s and speeding tickets.

A traffic ticket is usually the only experience a driver has with the legal system.  Often times drivers are not aware of the full repercussions of a traffic violation and don’t realize that there are very good options in fighting the ticket.   The process of handling a simple traffic matter however can often be confusing if you do not have professional assistance in fighting the ticket.  The law requires that even for traffic violation matters you are innocent of the charge until the prosecutor and police officer prove that you are guilty.  If you are ready to fight the charges, this article has some great information to help you fight your ticket.

Why Should I Plead Not Guilty For My Speeding Ticket In Harrison?

If you wish to plead guilty (never recommended) and pay the fine, the instructions are listed on the back or right side of the traffic ticket.  Remember, a traffic ticket is simply a charge or accusation that a driver may have committed the alleged offense.  Once you plead guilty, your case is over and you are accepting full responsibility of the charges and penalties even if you were improperly accused.  Putting your traffic ticket in perspective, pleading not guilty means that the worst result is that you pay the fines and penalties as charged, therefore fighting the ticket means that your situation can only improve.

Your first step in fighting a speeding ticket is pleading not guilty to the charge. By answering the ticket with a not guilty plea you are letting the court know that you wish to reserve your right to take your case to trial or possibly negotiate a reduction on the charges.    Pleading not guilty is always the best option because it allows you to fight your ticket as opposed to pleading guilty and paying the fine.  If you hire an attorney, the lawyer can take care of all the required legal steps, including entering a not guilty plea on your behalf.  

Should I Hire An Attorney To Fight My Ticket? 

It’s important to remember that having a driver’s license is a privilege and one that you should protect at all costs.  A traffic violation can have serious consequences both financially and on your ability to legally drive.  It’s very important that you always maintain a clean record and stay away from points that can accumulate on to your license.

A licensed traffic defense attorney can help you fight your ticket without you ever having to come to court.  The best part is that the attorney will be able to negotiate a reduction of the charges that you are facing, which can save you hundreds in fines and increases in your insurance rates.  Contact Rosenblum Law today for a free consultation on how we can help you beat your Harrison Traffic Ticket. Call us at 888-434-0406.

Speeding Ticket in Other Counties

NY Speeding Ticket Fines vs. NJ Speeding Ticket Fines

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Staten Island Traffic Court Judge Ordered To Take Anger Management Class

After numerous complaints, Administrative Law Judge Brian Levine of Staten Island has been ordered by an arbitrator to take anger management and human relations classes. This being the result of a 2009 incident during an open court session where Judge Levine began a heated tirade that was directed at an MTA worker defending himself on a traffic violation. Judge Levine has earned a reputation among Staten Island motorists and attorneys assigned to defend traffic violations in his court as being one of the nastiest and toughest judges in the state. Continue reading “Staten Island Traffic Court Judge Ordered To Take Anger Management Class”

Where Do I Pay A New York Traffic Ticket?

If you have been issued a traffic ticket or multiple tickets for speeding and other violations it is important that take care of the ticket one way or another.  Ignoring the ticket can only make matters worse and might make the penalties worse and harder to resolve.  It is not a valid excuse to say that you were never given a court notice or the traffic ticket never stated how much the fine was. 

In New York the traffic ticket when issued is also a summons requiring you to answer your case to the court which has jurisdiction over your matter.  For most traffic violations your case will be heard by the local municipal or town court.  If you received a ticket within the 5 boroughs of New York City then your case will be heard by the Traffic Violations Bureau (TVB).

The most issued tickets in New York are speeding tickets.  These tickets not only have heavy fines but carry points which can affect your insurance rates and lead to a possible license suspension.  For drivers that are convicted of speeding above 20 miles per hour they are issued 6 points which also requires an additional penalty to be paid to the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles.

The DMV’s Driver Responsibility Assessment applies to all drivers that are convicted of a traffic violation in the State of New York, even out of state drivers.  The program is intended to deter repeat offenses within the state and to encourage traffic safety.  If you receive 6 or more points on your New York State driving record within an 18 month period then the annual assessment is $100 for three years.  Drivers that receive more than six points on their record within an 18 month period are fined an additional $25 per point per year (each additional point is $75).   The DMV will suspend your license if you fail to pay your DMV Driver Responsibility Assessment.

Even if you live out of state or in Canada, if you plead guilty New York may notify your home state and points can be added to your driving record.

Payments for fines and penalties can be made to the court that is listed on your traffic ticket.  To make a payment you can call the local court handling your case and speak with the court clerk on how you can arrange to make your payment.  If your case is with the Traffic Violations Bureau you can arrange pay using this website. It is important to note that paying your fines on a traffic ticket is also the equivalent of pleading guilty to the charge.  This means that you are waiving your right to a trial and possibly having the ticket reduced or dismissed.

If you have been charged with a traffic violation, before paying your ticket, consult with an experienced traffic defense attorney.  An attorney can discuss your options with you and potentially help you avoid costly fines and points.

Lawmakers Discuss Charging a Fee to Cross the Border into the US

Last month, the Department of Homeland Security requested permission from Congress to consider charging a fee for entry into the United States. This request has stirred a raging debate among lawmakers throughout the country.

Currently, Canadians drive into the United States to purchase goods at a much cheaper rate than they ever could receive back home. Such purchases have been and continue to be an economic boon for northern states like New York. However, if Canadians were charged a fee for entering the United States, many lawmakers and businesses believe that the trek would no longer be worth it.

If this were to happen, northern legislators say, the economy would suffer tremendously. As one small business owner put it, “They should be doing anything they can to get them down here to buy more.” Echoing this sentiment, 18 Republican and Democratic House lawmakers wrote a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano explaining, “The imposition of such a toll would act as a barrier to the greater economic integration that we seek, and is the absolute last thing we should be doing to grow our economy.” Continue reading “Lawmakers Discuss Charging a Fee to Cross the Border into the US”

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 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”