Tompkins County is named in honor of Daniel D. Tompkins, who served as the fourth Governor of New York (1807 to 1817) and sixth Vice President of the United States of America (1817 to 1825). Although known for its beautiful waterfalls and lakefront property, Tompkins is prized for being home to two world-class universities: Cornell University and Ithaca College. Many of the county’s thriving industries rely on these schools to supply them with educated and intellectual labor and other resources.
Drivers should never pay a speeding ticket issued in Tompkins County. The hidden costs and penalties that come with a conviction can shock many unsuspecting individuals. These penalties could be avoided by calling an experienced traffic ticket lawyer who can beat or reduce the charge.
New York State Speeding Ticket Costs
A driver charged with speeding in NY can expect a fine of $150 to $600 in most cases. What most don’t expect, is the mandatory state surcharge of $88 or $93 that comes with each offense. In addition, if the ticket puts the total number of points on the license at 6 or more, the driver will be charged a Driver Responsibility Assessment (DRA) fee by the DMV. The DRA is a separate fine and costs $300 for the first 6 points and $75 for each additional point. Once the speeding ticket appears on the driver’s record, his/her auto insurer is likely to raise rates by hundreds of dollars per month for several years.
Speeding Tickets Data from Tompkins County NY
Drivers in Tompkins County received 3,084 speeding tickets in 2018, just slightly more than the number written in 2017 (3,038). Speeding tickets made up about 20% of all tickets issued last year in the county, just slightly more than the statewide average of 18.6%. Weekends were the worst time to be speeding in Tompkins County last year, as a third of all such tickets were issued on Saturdays and Sunday. State Troopers were the most aggressive in enforcing speeding in Tompkins County in 2018, handing out almost 75% of the tickets.
Number of Speeding Tickets Given in Tompkins County, NY
| Year | # of Speeding Tickets |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 3,945 |
| 2010 | 4,375 |
| 2011 | 3,298 |
| 2012 | 2,470 |
| 2013 | 2,649 |
| 2014 | 2,832 |
| 2015 | 3,107 |
| 2016 | 3,462 |
| 2017 | 3,159 |
| 2018 | 3,084 |
Drivers hit with speeding tickets in Tompkins County would be well advised to fight the ticket and either get it dismissed or reduced to a low-point/no-point violation. Less than 7% of drivers were able to get their speeding ticket dismissed in Tompkins County courts last year. With such a high conviction rate, drivers should seek the help of a skilled attorney to avoid the worst consequences.
Tompkins County Geography and How It Relates to Traffic Tickets
Located near the finger lakes, Tompkins County cannot be directly accessed by any interstate highways. However, a number of state routes converge in the county around the city of Ithaca, including NY Routes 79, 34 and 96. Despite the lack of major thruways, the county experiences nearly 2 million vehicle miles of travel within its borders each year. This includes a mix of tourists and daily commuters (both local and those from nearby counties). Students attending Cornell University and Ithaca College also traverse the roads, giving police much to keep an eye on.
Hiring a Tompkins County Speeding Ticket Lawyer
A speeding ticket in New York State is a serious matter. Any driver charged with speeding needs the help of an experienced traffic ticket attorney. An attorney offers the best chance of reducing or beating the ticket and thus avoiding the worst penalties. The best part is that, in most cases, those who hire legal representation may not have to show up to court themselves.
Contact the Rosenblum Law Firm to assist you with your speeding ticket matter in Tompkins County. We can offer you a free consultation about your case and have our attorneys fight on your behalf. Our attorneys have represented clients in all the courts in Tompkins County for both traffic and criminal matters including Caroline, Danby, Dryden, Enfield, Groton, Ithaca, Lansing, Newfield, and Ulysses. Call 888-434-0406 or email Rosenblum Law today for a free consultation about your case.