Midway between Syracuse and Binghamton, Cortland County is a predominantly rural part of New York State. In addition to a thriving agricultural industry, the county is reliant on manufacturing and other industrial businesses, such as CNC milling. Cortland is one of NY’s smaller counties, both in terms of population (47,823) and area (502 square miles). It sits in a portion of the state near both the Southern Tier and Central New York. Still, it has only a few major roadways in and out of the state, which police watch aggressively for speeding and other infractions. Drivers who get speeding tickets in Cortland County should consult with a traffic ticket attorney to determine if and how they can beat the fines and other penalties.
New York State Speeding Ticket Costs
The fines for speeding in Cortland County are usually between $150 to $600. In addition to the fine, drivers must pay a mandatory state surcharge of $88 or $93. A DMV Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA) fee will also be tacked on to any driver who accrues 6 or more points on his/her license. A DRA costs $300 plus an additional $75 for each point over six. On top of this, insurance premiums are likely to increase following a conviction for speeding, costing hundreds more per year. Altogether, this can bring the total cost of a speeding ticket to well over $1,000 in some cases.
Speeding Tickets Data from Cortland County, NY
Drivers received 6,157 speeding tickets in Cortland County in 2018. This may seem like a small figure, but when taking into account the amount of vehicle traffic the county sees, it’s actually quite significant. Cortland County actually saw the fifth-most speeding tickets per 1,000 vehicle miles traveled (VMT). This means every driver who enters Cortland County is 2.5 times more likely to get a speeding ticket than in Manhattan. More than a third (35%) of Cortland County speeding tickets were issued on the weekend last year. Another 16% were written on Fridays. One-in-ten drivers who got speeding tickets last year were also issued additional tickets during the same traffic stops. Almost a quarter was for licensing violations, such as driving on an expired license. Another 14% were for driving on a suspended license.
It can be difficult to beat speeding tickets in Cortland County. Only 4.3% of drivers got tickets dismissed last year. That’s why every driver should hire an experienced traffic ticket attorney to help with a speeding ticket. An attorney can negotiate with prosecutors to reduce the charge, potentially lowering the fine and points while avoiding other possible penalties.
Number of Speeding Tickets Given in Corland County, NY
| Year | # of Speeding Tickets |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 6,499 |
| 2010 | 6,706 |
| 2011 | 6,622 |
| 2012 | 5,239 |
| 2013 | 5,827 |
| 2014 | 5,401 |
| 2015 | 5,584 |
| 2016 | 7,375 |
| 2017 | 6,659 |
| 2018 | 6,157 |
Cortland County Geography and How It Relates to Traffic Tickets
With barely over 1.5 million vehicle miles logged in the county last year, Cortland County is one of the least trafficked counties in New York. Still, it does get a fair number of tourists to some of its many annual festivals, such as the Bluegrass Ramble in the summer and the Great Cortland Pumpkinfest in autumn. Thru-traffic often enters Cortland via I-81 and U.S. Route 11. In addition to those attending SUNY Cortland, many students visit the county from nearby colleges; Cornell University, Syracuse University, SUNY Binghamton and Ithaca College are all within a 45-minute drive of the county. The proportion of tickets to vehicle traffic means speeders stand out to police are very likely to get ticketed.
Hiring a Cortland County Speeding Ticket Lawyer
Rather than accept the fines, points, and insurance increase that comes with a speeding ticket, every driver should consult with an attorney. In many cases, it may be possible to get the charges reduced or dropped. Even better, when a person hires an attorney he/she may not have to show up to court themselves.
Contact Rosenblum Law to assist you with your speeding ticket matter in Cortland County. We can offer you a free consultation about your case and have our attorney’s fight to reduce the penalties. Our attorneys have represented clients in Cortland County for both traffic and criminal matters, including those from Cincinnatus, Cortland (city), Cortlandville, Cuyler, Freetown, Harford, Homer, Lapeer, Marathon, Preble, Scott, Solon, Taylor, Truxton, Virgil, and Willet. Call 888-434-0406 or email Rosenblum Law today for a free consultation about your case.